Coronavirus: Car Parade Organized for Deerfield Woman's Birthday

DEERFIELD, IL — On Monday, Deerfield resident Gordana Dukan turned 64 years old. To mark the occasion under an emergency stay-at-home order issued by Gov. JB Pritzker to combat the coronavirus pandemic, roughly a dozen vehicles adorned with birthday decorations participated in a surprise car parade in front of Dukan's house.

Alisa Patterson, a friend of Dukan's, said Dukan had been out of the country since July and was mostly recently in Madrid to watch her son, Duje, play professional basketball. She managed to get back to the U.S. before extended travel restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic were put into place, Patterson added.

"Everybody needed something to feel good about today," Patterson said.

Deerfield resident Cindy Miller organized the event. Originally, the plan was to have a group of Dukan's friends stand on her lawn to sing "Happy Birthday" but the idea garnered so much interest that it would have violated coronavirus restrictions to social gatherings.

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Patterson said Dukan, who splits her time between Deerfield and Croatia, was in tears and told the organizers that it was the best birthday she ever had and was more exciting than her own wedding. But as much as it meant to Dukan, Patterson said it made the day of everyone who was involved.

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