Francine Gravel
Francine van der Heide (née Gravel) Aug 20, 1919 - Feb 13, 2023.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal on February 13th..
Preceded in death by her husband Wiebe, she is survived by her three sons Hendrik, Alain (Joan), and Robert (Louise), and by her grandchildren Dana and Eric.
She was born to Hector Gravel and Agathe Perras in La Prairie in 1919. A gifted student, she graduated from normal college in 1938. In 1948 she moved to New York City, where she met her husband, Wiebe. Together they raised their sons in Oceanside NY. They lived in Rome from 1977 to 1978, then it was back to NY, and finally to Montreal after Wiebe passed away. There she spent the last years of her life actively enjoying time with her large circle of extended family and friends.
Francine was a lover of the arts. She enjoyed visiting museums, and studying art. She also painted until her vision no longer allowed it. Concerts, musicals, plays, and opera were an integral part of her life. She attended broadcasts of the NY Metropolitan Opera until the very end of her life. She also loved reading (later listening to audio books), and kept abreast of current events by reading the newspaper every day.
She enjoyed fine dining with family and friends. In addition to knowing where the good restaurants were, she was an excellent cook, preparing everything from French to Indonesian cuisine.
She traveled extensively her entire life. Her destinations included Africa, China, most of Western Europe, and Cuba, where she was the subject of an article in Reader’s Digest.
Her long life can be attributed in part to her curiosity, enthusiasm, and refusal to slow down, taking her last ski trip in her 80’s, and her last bicycle ride on her 90th birthday.
There will be a memorial service at Urgel Bourgie Funeral Home on Beaumont Avenue in the Town of Mount Royal on May 16 at 10:00 AM.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal on February 13th..
Preceded in death by her husband Wiebe, she is survived by her three sons Hendrik, Alain (Joan), and Robert (Louise), and by her grandchildren Dana and Eric.
She was born to Hector Gravel and Agathe Perras in La Prairie in 1919. A gifted student, she graduated from normal college in 1938. In 1948 she moved to New York City, where she met her husband, Wiebe. Together they raised their sons in Oceanside NY. They lived in Rome from 1977 to 1978, then it was back to NY, and finally to Montreal after Wiebe passed away. There she spent the last years of her life actively enjoying time with her large circle of extended family and friends.
Francine was a lover of the arts. She enjoyed visiting museums, and studying art. She also painted until her vision no longer allowed it. Concerts, musicals, plays, and opera were an integral part of her life. She attended broadcasts of the NY Metropolitan Opera until the very end of her life. She also loved reading (later listening to audio books), and kept abreast of current events by reading the newspaper every day.
She enjoyed fine dining with family and friends. In addition to knowing where the good restaurants were, she was an excellent cook, preparing everything from French to Indonesian cuisine.
She traveled extensively her entire life. Her destinations included Africa, China, most of Western Europe, and Cuba, where she was the subject of an article in Reader’s Digest.
Her long life can be attributed in part to her curiosity, enthusiasm, and refusal to slow down, taking her last ski trip in her 80’s, and her last bicycle ride on her 90th birthday.
There will be a memorial service at Urgel Bourgie Funeral Home on Beaumont Avenue in the Town of Mount Royal on May 16 at 10:00 AM.