Françoise was born on September 13, 1940 in Pornichet, France. She studied in England before she came to the United States at the age of 19. In Topeka, Kansas, she met her future husband, Bill (CWO-4 Army) whom she wed shortly thereafter. Their first daughter Natalie was born in Topeka. After a move to Madrid, Spain their second daughter Michele was born. Françoise truly enjoyed her role as a military wife and viewed every move as a new adventure. Bill’s military career took the family to Madrid, Spain; Lompoc, California; Del Rio, Texas; and Wiesbaden and Ramstein, Germany before their final move to Universal City, Texas in 1975.
Françoise was a creative and talented writer and artist; her favorite medium was watercolor. She spoke five languages and had an affinity for culture, music, and art. She enjoyed teaching and attending classes at the Academy of Learning in Retirement (ALIR) where she formed many treasured friendships. She returned to France every summer to spend time with her family. She had a passion for life and good food, and her favorite times were spent enjoying a meal with those she loved or playing a game of Scrabble with her grandchildren who called her “Mamie.” She was proud of her French heritage and took an active interest in people’s lives and opinions. She shared her love of travel, culture, languages, and nature with her daughters while they were growing up, taking them on many trips all over Europe.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Billy Dean Rich, her parents René and Luciènne de Perry, and her sister, Ghislaine De Jaager.
She is survived by her daughters, Natalie Rich (Steve) Mahany of Dripping Springs, Texas and Michele Rich Dacus of Colleyville, Texas; her five grandchildren, Mark (Maria) Mahany, Leslie Mahany, Laura Mahany, David Dacus, and Eric Dacus; and her siblings Hélène Lavenant, Gilles (Dany) de Perry and Philippe (Joelle) de Perry of France. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and her goddaughter, Justine de Perry.
Funeral and graveside services will be held Wednesday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.
To share condolences with the family, please visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.
