[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 111 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H3025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING LIFE AND LEGACY OF SISTER ROSEMARY CONNELLY

  (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Sister Rosemary Connelly of Chicago, Illinois, who passed away on June 
19 at the age of 94.
  During her extraordinary life, Sister Rosemary served with unmatched 
devotion as the longtime executive director of Misericordia, a home for 
children and adults with developmental disabilities on Chicago's north 
side. She started her work in 1969, when Misericordia was a small and 
underresourced institution caring for about 50 children with profound 
challenges.
  Sister Rosemary brought a bold vision rooted in compassion and 
dignity, and over the next five decades she transformed Misericordia 
into one of the Nation's most respected care facilities, serving 
hundreds of residents and employing over 1,200 staff and volunteers. 
She spearheaded fundraising, created jobs through social enterprises 
like the Hearts & Flour Bakery, and expanded the campus to include 
community-integrated homes.
  Revered across northern Illinois and beyond, Sister Rosemary was 
widely recognized for her impact on families and her unshakable belief 
that every life has purpose.
  I extend my condolences to all of Sister Rosemary's family, friends, 
and colleagues on this immense loss.

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