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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAULA MATELA ON HER RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, on December 31, 2014, Paula Matela will retire after 27 years of service with Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Paula spent the last 20 years in the Office of the Secretary to the Cook County Board of Commissioners and was promoted to Deputy Secretary in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Paula, the daughter of the late Armando and Carmina Popolla, was born Paola Popolla on June 6, 1963 in Amaseno, Italy, and is the youngest of five children; and
WHEREAS, Paula has a brother, Franco, and sister, Lucia, who still live in Italy and two brothers, Robert and Enzo, who live in Chicago Heights; and
WHEREAS, in 1972, Armando Popolla and Paula's brother, Robert, came to the United States and settled in Chicago Heights, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Paula came to the United States on August 23, 1973 with her mother, Carmina, and brother, Enzo, to join her father and brother in Chicago Heights and Paula eventually changed her name from Paola to Paula; and
WHEREAS, at 10 years old, Paula's new life in the United States was difficult due to her not knowing any English; and
WHEREAS, Paula attended Garfield Elementary school, in Chicago Heights, where she had a difficult time because of the language barrier, as she once told her mother that if there was an airplane in front of their house, she would get on it and fly back to Italy; and
WHEREAS, Paula eventually learned English and developed her personality that earned her the nickname "52 pounds of rompin' stompin'" from her 4th grade teacher; and
WHEREAS, Paula continued her education at Bloom High School, graduating in 1981, and earning her Associates Degree in Secretarial Studies at Prairie State College in May of 1984; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 1989, Paula married Nicholas Matela; and
WHEREAS, Paula and Nick have been married for 25 years and are the are the proud parents of Michael and Matthew Matela; and
WHEREAS, Paula be...
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