CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED TO HORTENSE O.JOHNSON ON CELEBRATING HER 100TH BIRTHDAY
WHEREAS, Hortense O. Johnson, loving aunt and esteemed 45th Ward resident, celebrated the joyous occasion of her 100th birthday on July 9, 2020; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by the Honorable James Gardiner, Alderman ofthe 45th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Hortense was born on July 9,1920, to German and Swedish immigrants, and moved from St. Louis to the City with her family when she was 11; and
WHEREAS, After earning her diploma from Carl Schurz High School, Hortense began working at Appleton in their accounting department and eventually worked her way up to become a credit manager; and
WHEREAS, Hortense fondly recalls regularly meeting friends for lunch at Marshall Field's, usually having the chicken salad; collecting emeralds and lladro figurines she found walking through the store; and spending weekends dancing nights away at the Aragon Ballroom; and
WHEREAS, A devoted daughter, after the passing of her father, Hortense purchased a home in the Big Oaks neighborhood for her mother and her to live in; Hortense took care of her mother until her passing and still resides in her Big Oaks home over 50 years later; and
WHEREAS, Family remained at the forefront of Hortense's life as her home in Big Oaks allowed her the opportunity to live near her brothers, Roland and Robert, and watch their families grow up; and
WHEREAS, To this day, Hortense remains close to her nieces and nephews, and some of her favorite memories involve taking her nieces and nephews on the "L" to go shopping in the toy department at Marshall Field's; and
WHEREAS, When Hortense is not with her nieces and nephews attending events around the City such as the Taste of Chicago, she can be found gardening and baking cookies for her family, including her famous Christmas cookies that always come in various shapes and sizes; and
WHEREAS, As her family continues to grow with adoring nieces and nephews, Hortense will continue to shower them with memories, blessings, and of course, cookies; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-second day of July, 2020, do hereby congratulate Hortense O. Johnson on her 100th Birthday, and wish her continued success and happiness; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Hortense O. Johnson as a token of our esteem, gratitude, and respect.
