Melrose Park, Ill. – When Eleanor Pavlik stopped by her local deli to pick up a few grocery items on September 25, she decided to purchase a $10 instant ticket to test her luck. When she got home that afternoon, she scratched off the “Jackpot Riches” ticket and quickly learned she was $1 million dollars richer.
“I play the Illinois Lottery all the time, and usually pick the $10 instant tickets because the return is greater,” said Pavlik. “I was in complete shock, to say the least, because I’ve never won this much money before!”
Pavlik is 83-years-old and lives with her husband George in Melrose Park, Ill. Together, they have one daughter, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She plans to use her winnings to set up a savings account for her great grandchildren’s education. Pavlik also plans on purchasing plane tickets for her and her husband so that they may visit family on the East Coast.
“I love to play the Lottery and will continue to do so,” said Pavlik. “My motto is that life itself is a gamble and you’ll never know unless you play!”
The Illinois Lottery’s “Jackpot Riches” instant ticket sells for $10 and offers more than $22 million in prizes. Pavlik is the game’s first big winner.
Ozzie’s Liquor and Deli, located at 11158 W. Grand Avenue in Melrose Park, will receive a bonus of 1 percent of the top prize, or $10,000, for selling the winning ticket.
