Libertyville grandmother wins $1 million in lottery

Like clockwork a few times each week, Liliana Brandi tries her luck on the various Illinois Lottery games available at the Dominick's grocery store in Vernon Hills.

On Oct. 13, the grandmother from Libertyville was stunned after scratching off the first few spots on a Jackpot Bonus ticket to reveal $1 million winner.

So she kept scratching until all the little windows on the ticket — which has five games in one — were revealed.

“I didn't believe it,” said the tiny 69-year-old native of Italy. “I gave it to the girl to scan and she was more excited than I was.”

Bookkeeper Patty Kelley, who validated the ticket, said she has worked at the grocery chain for more than 33 years but never has dealt with a win of that magnitude.

“It was phenomenally exciting,” she said. “I actually counted the zeros to make sure it was right.”

That led to a call to Tom Miller, customer service manager.

“I got paged right away,” he said. “I wobbled a little bit when I saw all the zeros.”

Brandi maintained a low profile while others around her celebrated.

“She was very stoic, very reserved, very shocked, I would say,” according to Miller.

Brandi was back at Dominick's on Tuesday to accept an oversize check from lottery officials. All big winners are asked to participate in one event, explained Liz Leonard, lottery spokeswoman.

Officials work with the winner on the circumstances and Brandi opted for a low-key gathering next to the instant lottery machine installed at Dominick's about six weeks ago.

“We have quite a few millionaire prizes out there to be won,” said Leonard, who noted the recent win by Lake Villa resident Kenny Perry.

Technically, Brandi is not a millionaire, as taxes will take nearly a third of her winnings. She will receive a lump sum minus 25 percent federal tax and 5 percent state tax, Leonard said. Dominick's, considered a high-volume Lottery ticket seller, has had several winners but none over $600, Miller said. Dominick's gets $10,000 for selling the $1 million winner.

Brandi also won $20,000 several years ago on a Veteran's Cash scratch game.

While she has an oversize promotional check for the scrapbook, the real thing takes four to six weeks to process so Brandi has not fully formalized plans for her winnings.

“A new car for sure,” she noted. A trip to Italy and educational considerations for the grandkids are other givens.

“After I deposit the check, maybe it will be real,” she said.