JOSEPHINE A KORGE's Obituary
Josephine Tanous Korge, born in Lawrence, New York, on February 7, 1918, passed peacefully early on the morning of April 2, 2018. She was 100 years young. Her parents, Azeez Tanous and Nora Yabrouti Tanous, immigrated from Lebanon and Syria to New York City where they met and married. Josephine was the sixth and the last surviving of seven children. She graduated from St. Mary’s College, a Catholic women’s college in Ohio, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and went to work with the Sperry Gyroscope Company. She worked on the development of the Norden bombsight, the precision aeronautical instrument that helped the U.S. and its allies win the Second World War. After the War, she moved to Miami, where she met and married war veteran George J. Korge, who had also moved to Miami from Brooklyn. He died 31 year ago and she remained in the Roads-area house they bought in 1957, until her death. Josephine was deeply religious and active in her church and community, serving as chair of the board of Catholic Community Services and president of Bethany House. She sent her 4 children, Tom, Kathy, Chris, and Andrew, to Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School and Immaculata-LaSalle High School for a “good” Catholic education. In 1977, Josephine and George became founding members of St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church on Brickell Avenue, where she served as president of the Lady’s Guild for many years. Josephine and George were also very socially conscientious. They were close friends of Congressman Dante Fascell and his wife, Jean Marie, and were always involved in his political campaigns as well as other campaigns and social causes. Josephine was president of the JC Auxiliary Board and an active member of both the Miami Junior Woman’s Club and the Miami Woman’s Club all while serving as a volunteer guide at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens for more than 25 years. She actively helped those less fortunate living in her heritage country of Lebanon while serving as president emeritus of Peace for Lebanon. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday and in a February 8 article about her extraordinary life, The Miami Herald succinctly summarized who she is and was: “If love truly makes the world go ’round, Josephine Arden Korge discovered that secret of life early on.” Josephine is survived by her children, Thomas J. Korge and wife Deborah; Kathleen Bronstein; Christopher G. Korge; and Andrew P. Korge; her grandchildren, Thomas J. Korge III; Christopher P. Korge; James M. Korge; Arden Bronstein; Andrew M. Korge; Kristina Korge Onoz; Angela Korge; Eric Evans; Naomi Alonso; Kathleen Casey Korge; and Kevin Korge; and 5 great grandchildren. Viewing/Service will be Thursday, April 5th from 7p-9p and Funeral/Mass will be Friday, April 6th from 11am-12noon both at St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church in Brickell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church, 126 SE 15th Rd, Miami, FL 33129
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