HR0131 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0131 LRB094 11104 HSS 41727 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of William J. Curley of Hazel Crest, formerly of Riverdale, on Monday, February 14, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born on February 24, 1908, in Chicago; he was the fifth of eight children born to Michael and Margaret (nee Salmon) Curley, both of whom were immigrants from Ireland; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Curley was a good citizen, a hard working family man who was able to achieve the American dream through honesty, persistence, and determination; a teenager during the Great Depression, he left school and went to work after the death of his father in order to help support his mother and younger siblings; in 1939 he took a job with the Internal Revenue Service after passing the federal government's civil service entrance exam; and

WHEREAS, Though he only had two years of formal high school education, Mr. Curley never gave up on continuing his education; while working full time at the IRS, he completed law school and achieved his goal of becoming a CPA (Certified Public Accountant); he retired from the Internal Revenue Service in 1970, after 31 years of service, with the title Appellate Conferee; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Curley and his wife, Alice Lillian, raised seven children; education and religion were priorities in their home; devout Roman Catholics, Mr. and Mrs. Curley managed to give their children a parochial school education; all seven graduated from high school, and three went on to graduate from college; a devoted grandfather, Mr. Curley did his best to acknowledge every birthday of his 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; he was the center of attention at a weekly family lunch attended by his children, and open to any extended family member that could make it; and

WHEREAS, He was a man of unquestionable integrity, a kind, benevolent, loving man who for all of his almost 97 years was an example of selfless devotion to his children and grandchildren; he lived his life by being true to the things he valued most: his faith, his family, and his work; and

WHEREAS, The passing of William J. Curley has been deeply felt by many, especially his children, Eileen (Lester) Wiersma, James W., Mary (Thomas) Ostrowski, Janet (Hon. John) Doody, Michael, and Kathleen (Wayne) Piotrowski; his grandchildren, Teresa (Randall) McConochie, Donna Wiersma, William Wiersma, Kirsten (Robert) Cichowicz, Valerie Curley, Thomas (Kim) Ostrowski, Lisa (Christopher) Michaels, Julie (Jonathon) Goken, Maureen (Paul) Johnson, John T. Doody III, Colleen (Robert) Kelsheimer, Carolyn (Paul) Bough, Michael A. (Eileen) Curley, Erin (Robert) Longfield, Kristeen Piostrowski, Meagan Piotrowski, and Shawn Piotrowski; and his great-grandchildren Lindsay McConochie, Anthony Wiersma, Cameron Cichowicz, Evan, Matthew, and Olivia Ostrowski, Carter Michaels, Tyler, Brandon, and Emily Kelsheimer, David Curley, and Tyler and Gavin Longfield; he was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Lillian, nee Beach; his son, Daniel; his grandson, Lester Wiersma Jr.; and his siblings, Robert (Pearl), John (Katherine), Michael Aloysius (Sophie), Vincent (Thelma), Ann (George) O'Connor, Vivian (Stanley) Lubish, and Francis (Helen); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William J. Curley, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our sincere condolences.