Madge Gribble Askonas

Madge Gribble Askonas died on December 24, 2019 at the young age of 97 after
a brief illness. A celebration of life will be held Monday December 30 at
1:00 PM at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave., Chattanooga.

Madge was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. She graduated high school at 16,
attended Stephen F Austin State University, graduating with a business
administration degree at 19. To the consternation of her family, she moved
to Houston to begin her life's journey, later moving to New York City and
then to Germany to work for the State Department after WWII. Upon returning
to NYC, she married Frederick Askonas.

Madge and Fred started their family in New Jersey, then moved to the Chicago
suburbs in 1967. Madge stayed home to raise her children, then returned to
professional life in the mid-1970s. She was always deeply involved in the
Episcopal Church, participating in the lay education program called
Education For Ministry.

Madge was involved in the League of Women Voters in the 1960-70s. She was a
strong proponent of women's rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and access to
reproductive health services.

Madge and Fred loved to travel and shared many wonderful trips throughout
the world. Two memorable trips were to visit their daughter in Mali in 1983
when Carla was in the Peace Corps, and to the Czech Republic in 1994, Fred's
first return after fleeing the Nazis in 1938.

One source of family pride and humor was Madge's reputation as an excellent
pie chef. In the 1990's, when she became known as Gamma to the
grandchildren, Fred created the Eta Gamma Pi Society (Ate A Gamma Pie) and
created a special letterhead for her. Family reunions then became meetings
of the society.

Madge loved all the performing and visual arts, introducing her family to
ballet, symphonies, paintings, and sculptures of all sorts. Attending art
events was a pastime Madge enjoyed into her last year.

Madge was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Frederick Walter
Askonas and her siblings Risdon and Charles Gribble and Daisy Orton. She is
survived by her sister Ann Barnett; 3 children, Leslie, Carla (Charles
Jones) and Charles Askonas (Deborah); 6 grandchildren, Andrew (Jessica),
Christine, Ellen, Elise, Jonathan (Laura) and Caroline; and 2 great
grandchildren, Charles and Brigitte; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses appreciation to caregivers from the Alexian Live At
Home Program and the staff at Memorial, Siskin, and Erlanger Hospitals.
Martha, Terri, Sydney & Will added greatly to Madge's joy these last years.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Grace Episcopal Church or an
Arts organization of your choice. Madge often said, "for a girl from East
Texas, I went very far."

You are encouraged to share a memory of Madge and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home is honored to assist her family with these arrangements.