Francelyne Lurie Obituary (1939 - 2023) - Golden Valley, Minnesota

Francelyne Oppert was born to the late Paulette and Yves Oppert on March 23rd, 1939 in Paris, France. As a Jewish child in Nazi occupied France, she survived the war hiding in a small rural village in the south. Her story, and many others like it, would become the material for books and documentaries. Her survival shaped her life, resulting in a lifetime of service to others. Francie never backed down from a challenge; she chaired numerous committees, was the 1st female president of JFCS Mpls, headed dozens of fundraising campaigns and volunteered countless hours to her community. She did everything with the drive, determination, elegance, and an eye for detail that everyone appreciated but few would have imagined. Francie met the love of her life, Richard Lurie, at the U of M, where she studied theater. She dazzled him with her French charm and her natural beauty. They were married for 54 years, the first 10 of which saw the birth of 6 children; Lysa (Rich), Linda (Steve), Cindy, Julie (Tom) Jon and Adam, who later added 14 grandchildren and 2 great children to the family. They somehow found time to travel the world together, from high school hockey games to a remote village in New Zealand. Their home was filled with the evidence of her passion for travel, her keen eye for collecting, her love of family and her desire to provide a gathering spot for her family and friends whom she cherished. Though Alzheimers took much from Francelyne in recent years, it never dulled her witty sense of humor, her love of adventure and good conversation, and her ability to leave someone’s day just a little bit brighter. She will be forever missed and never duplicated. A grateful thank you to her many caretakers who gave of their time and energy to make sure our Mom felt cared for and loved. She never did like taking her pills. Funeral service Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 1:00pm at UNITED HEBREW BROTHERHOOD CEMETERY CHAPEL, 2605 W. 70 1/2 St. Richfield. Also available on zoom at https://tinyurl.com/FrancelyneLurie Shiva to follow at 13323 Kerry Lane, Eden Prairie at 6:45 pm. Donations are gratefully preferred to: Sharei Chesed Congregation, 1712 Hopkins Crossroad, Mtka, MN 55305 or Alzheimers Association 7900 W 8th St Edina, MN 55439