RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING ANNE B HOPKINS
WHEREAS, The best pierogi's in Chicago are made in the kitchen of Chicago's own Anne B. Hopkins who celebrated her 100th birthday on March 2, 2002; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Marty Quinn, Alderman ofthe 13th Ward, has apprised the members of the chamber of this remarkable woman's auspicious milestone; and
WHEREAS, Anne's non-English-speaking parents both emigrated from Poland after WWI to the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago where they met. Anne (nee Zajac) had seven brothers and sisters and is the only surviving child. They all lived through The Great Depression; and
WHEREAS, Anne met her husband Ambrose while growing up in Brighton Park. They married shortly before Abe shipped off to England. He had volunteered to fight for the Army Air Corp in 1942. Their first daughter, Carol, was born while Abe was in the service and Anne was basically a single mother until Abe's return in 1945; and
WHEREAS, Like many couples, Anne and Abe both had to work to support their family, Abe driving a school bus for handicapped children and Anne working nights at Campbell Soup. They lived in Brighton Park until 1957 when they purchased a house in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood where Anne still lives today; and
WHEREAS, Anne and Abe had five children: Carol, Bill, Cindy, Mary and Fran, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She is a founding member of St. Jane DeChantel Parish (St. Faustina) and a founding member of the Brighton Park Polish Highlanders Club. She took quilting classes at the Chicago Park District then formed a quilting club that lasted for more than 10 years. Anne worked at Campbell Soup for 35 years, retiring the day before Abe unexpectantly passed away in 1984. Anne remains in their Garfield Ridge home, and continued driving until December of 2000; and
WHEREAS, Anne still enjoys quilting and sewing and never misses Wheel of Fortune. So don't try calling her between 6:30 and 7:00! She's concentrating on vowels a...
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