Mary L. Ashe, 68, a longtime resident of Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood neighborhood, knew all too well what it was like to be the wife of a firefighter. She feared the day when “men in white shirts” would show up at her door to give her bad news about her husband, James, now a retired captain for the Chicago Fire Department, said her son Gerald. That day did arrive, but Mrs. Ashe survived it–her husband was able to recover from a serious case of smoke inhalation after battling a fire. Mrs. Ashe died at home Tuesday, May 30, of cancer. She was born and raised in Chicago and for a time worked as a secretary at Illinois Bell Telephone Co., said her son. After her children were born, she opted to stay at home. Survivors also include three other sons, James, Kevin and Thomas; three daughters, Kathleen Sonntag, Susan Santoyo and Nancy McKenna; a sister, Kathleen Connolly; and nine grandchildren. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Christina Church, 11005 S. Homan Ave., Chicago.
