Carmen Luz de Borjas, 49, was running errands when she decided to buy a "$250,000,000 Cash Spectacular" lottery ticket at Rite Liquors, 1649 W. Division St. right before New Year's Day.
"My husband felt something good was going to happen so he suggested I buy a lottery ticket," Borjas said in a release from the Illinois Lottery.
Borjas waited until she got home to scratch the ticket and discovered she'd won $1 million.
Borjas, who works in manufacturing, said in the release that she plans to finance medical costs for her nephew with cancer and send some money to her relatives in Mexico. She said she will also donate some of the winnings to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
Illinois Lottery officials presented Borjas with a ceremonial check Wednesday. After taxes, Borjas will receive $700,000, the release said.
Rite Liquors also got a ceremonial check for $10,000 - a bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this story.
