Monique Jeanne-Marie Gaston

Monique Jeanne-Marie Gaston, 96, of Athens, Ill., precious mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. She left us exactly one month to the day since the passing of her husband, Bennie Lee Gaston, and five days shy of her 97th birthday.

Monique was born March 31, 1924, one of three children born to Louis Michel Adolphe “Palou” Gries and Odette Josephe Marie “Mamie” (LeMoyne) Gries of Marseille, France.

Survivors include sister Jeannette Saniere of Marseille, France; daughters Suzanna (Mike) Ingram of Sidney, Ill.; Claudette (Roger) Schrepfer of Germantown Hills, Ill.; Marie (Greg) Fleck of Springfield, Ill.; and Monica (Jak) Tichenor of Carbondale, Ill.; sons Joseph (Jean) Gaston of Divernon, Ill.; Thomas (Jerri) Gaston of Springfield, Ill.; Mark (Julianne) Gaston of Marietta, Ga.; Daniel (Annie) Gaston of Centerville, Oh.; and John (Joanne) Gaston of Ashland, Ill.; 23 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law James (Joan) Gaston of Olive Branch, Miss., and Max (Joyce) Gaston of Mesa, Az.; and many nieces and nephews in France.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Michelle Gaston; parents, Louis Michel Adolphe Gries and Odette Josephe Marie (LeMoyne) Gries of Marseille, France; brother Michel Gries of Marseille, France; maternal grandparents Louis-Henri LeMoyne and Yvonne Marie-Claire Louise (Blanchard) LeMoyne (her beloved “Nonni”) of France; and paternal grandparents Charles Pierre Paul Gries and Jeanne (Le Boucher) Gries of France.

Monique grew up in Marseille, the second largest city in France, but also lived with her family for a few years in picturesque Toulon, both located in the heart of Provence, the southeastern region of France renowned for its sunny weather, its scenic vistas spanning from the Mediterranean Ocean to the stunning Alps, its colorful villages, its legendary food and wine, and its magical light, which inspired some of the world’s most well-known artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Pablo Picasso.

How fitting that Monique hails from a region filled with light for her very essence was one of pure light, love, and joie de vivre. It is surely this natural ebullience, a gift from the divine and the French region from which she came, along with her classic beauty, that drew the attention of her future husband, Bennie Lee Gaston, a small-town boy from Charleston, Ill. who was stationed on a base at Istres, France, just northwest of Marseille, near the end of World War II. It was there that Monique, who spoke fluent English and had been hired to work as a teleprinter operator, tape transmitter, and interpreter, met Bennie. And thus began a love that grew, despite many challenges, over the course of 75 years.

After their marriage on December 26, 1947 at Notre Dame du Mont in Marseille, the Gries family’s parish church, Monique and her new husband flew to the United States and began their lives together in Charleston, Illinois where Ben attended Eastern Illinois University. In addition to occasionally working in the projection room alongside her husband at the Fox Lincoln and Will Rogers Theaters, Monique also worked briefly at a fluorescent light plant in Mattoon before their children began to arrive. The growing family eventually moved to Athens, Illinois where they raised 10 children while Ben worked as a high school teacher and district librarian.

Monique had the soul of an adventurer and shared with her children that as a child she had dreams of traveling, being on stage, singing on the radio, and even piloting a plane. She loved American movies, music, and singers, so much so that her mother, Odette, used to tease her and say she was an American at heart. Monique had a great fondness for the United States and like many French people of the time, was forever grateful for the U.S. soldiers who helped to liberate her country from the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II. She made her appreciation for America official when she became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1952, but she took great pride in her home country and always saw herself as both French and American.

Monique learned to swim in the Mediterranean Ocean and was often at her happiest in the water. She was a good swimmer and loved the sidestroke best. It was a joy to watch her glide gracefully and effortlessly through the water, always on her left side, when she had the rare chance to swim. She shared touching and amusing stories of her childhood adventures in France with her parents and her siblings, Michel and Jeannette, and was always happy to welcome her mother, Odette Gries, a gifted pianist, on her numerous visits to Illinois to get to know her American grandchildren.

Monique loved flowers, especially peonies, and enjoyed planting flowers of all kinds, sometimes with the help of her children, especially her oldest daughter, Suzanne, who would help her plant annuals every year. She also had an interest in and talent for sketching, a gift that she passed on to some of her children and grandchildren.

She played the piano beautifully and had both perfect pitch and a pure soprano voice, serving as soloist and organist at Holy Family Catholic Church in Athens and St. John Vianney Church in Sherman for many years. She sang at weddings and funerals, and a recorded version of her singing the “Ave Maria” would bring any listener to tears, as she sings it so beautifully. She also played the piano for and helped teach the Pledge of Allegiance to kindergarteners in the Athens school district, taught piano basics to her many children and grandchildren, and spent hours playing piano and singing with her family, even as recently as five days before she passed away.

Monique was a devout Catholic and in addition to being a church organist and soloist she also served on church committees and was involved in many church-related events and activities. She especially enjoyed quilting with the ladies of Holy Family Church. Monique also knitted and crocheted beautiful baby blankets, booties, slippers, and other items for family and friends, taught many of her grandchildren how to crochet, and was known for the kindness she showed to others, including playing piano and singing for residents at area nursing homes and delivering Meals on Wheels for many years with her husband, Ben.

Monique was the most pure-hearted, loving, and forgiving person you could ever meet. Bearing and raising 10 children was surely overwhelming, just in the sheer number of diapers changed, the amount of laundry that had to be done, and the many meals that had to be prepared to feed such a large family. It was a daunting task and yet Monique found a way to care for her family with great love and tenderness. She was always there and available when her children needed her, and her children returned the love by showering her and their father with love and affection in their later years.

Monique said one of her most enjoyable experiences in recent years was going on road trips across central Illinois with Bennie, their daughter, Claudette, and son-in-law, Roger. They were a foursome and traveled many miles together, whether it was visiting an Amish store or driving down a country road they knew well and stopping at Dairy Queen for a treat. Claudette affectionately dubbed her mama “Shortcakes,” a nickname that Monique loved until the very end.

Monique was smart and resilient, and her naturally radiant spirit lit up every room in which she walked. She was an optimist who always strove to see the silver lining in even the worst circumstances. Through her example, she taught others how to love unconditionally, how to be patient and see the good in others, and how to appreciate the beauty and significance of simple pleasures – the trees changing in autumn, the sun shining on her face, spring with its many flowers, and snow on the sides of Gudgel Road.

We won’t say goodbye, dear mama, grandma, and great-grandma, but “see you later.” We know we will see you once again in our heavenly home. But, oh, how we will miss your warm hugs, your girlish laugh, your radiant smile, your beautiful voice, and your big, beautiful heart. “Sweet mama, how is heaven?” She smiles. “It’s good, really good.”

A private service will be held for family followed by burial at Joel Hall Cemetery in Athens.  If you would like to virtually attend Monique’s service, you may visit Mott & Henning’s Facebook page where it will be shown live at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 31st.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, Athens, HSHS St. John’s Hospice in Springfield, and Springfield Right to Life.

Mott & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the family. On-line condolences can be shared at www.mottandhenning.com