by John Gregory–Illinois Radio News

 

Friends, family, and politicians bid their final farewell to Judy Baar Topinka.

 

It was a standing room only crowd at the Operating Engineers Local 150 union hall in Countryside for Topinka’s memorial service, held a week after her death due to a stroke. The last in a long line of speakers was her son, Joe Topinka, who said public service is the best way anyone can honor his mother’s memory.

 

“I would ask you to rededicate your lives to make Illinois a better place,” Topinka said. “I urge Gov. Quinn and Gov.-elect Rauner to work together over the next few weeks on a smooth transition, and over the next few years to make Illinois a better place. I know Abraham Lincoln would’ve wanted it that way, and so would’ve mom.”

 

Both Quinn and Rauner spoke at the memorial, with Rauner joking that Topinka must be somewhere “chuckling a little bit” at him speaking in a union hall.