Gerry Gratigny

Geraldine Charlotte Gratigny passed away Thursday, April 15, 2021. Born Nov. 12, 1944, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Dorothy and Stanley Petko, deceased.

Gerry started her family with William Varney in 1966 and lived in various cities around the Midwest, frequently moving for business positions. Later as a single person Gerry worked as a manager for Catholic Health Initiatives living in St. Louis, Nashville and Cincinnati.

In 2008, Gerry married Wayne Gratigny, moving to Chattanooga and becoming a Longhorn fan and foster mom to rescued Golden Retrievers and cats. Gerry and Wayne were members of First

Presbyterian Church where they were Greeters and where Gerry volunteered sorting and arranging

clothes in the Mission Closet. Gerry served as President of the Harris Hills Community Association.

Being a Longhorn’s fan with Wayne included many road trips to games, and they were also blessed to

enjoy trips abroad and several Viking Cruises where they expanded their circle of friends. Every

Christmas, Wayne and Gerry shared humorous pictures of their Golden Retrievers posing for a holiday theme with their expanded family of friends.

Gerry is survived by her husband of 13 years, Wayne Gratigny, son Wayne (Denise) Gratigny, daughter Marianne (Marty) Lyles, daughter Kimberly (Rick) Thomas, son Joel (Terry) Varney,

grandchildren Jessica, Nick, Bryce, Rain, William, Dion and Aden, sister Penelope, brothers JR and

Brian Petko. Friends Joanne and Kathy and others too numerous to name.

A Celebration of Gerry’s Life will be held in the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home on Monday

April 19, 2021 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Chris Ehlers officiating. The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service beginning at 12 p.m.

We respectfully request that all current mandates set forth by the CDC and the Hamilton County

Health Department be adhered to. This includes “social distancing” and wearing masks at all times while on the premises.

In lieu of flowers, one of Gerry’s favorite charities was St. Joseph Indian School, give.stjo.org, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel,

404 South Moore Rd. East Ridge, TN 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com