Frances Marie Weir Strachan

Frances Marie Weir Strachan, age 88, of Loudonville, a woman of notable warmth, curiosity and generosity moved on to eternal life on November 2. Fran was born December 31, 1922 in South Bend, Indiana to the late David Andrew Weir and Marie Broussard Weir. Fran graduated from The Ursuline School in New Rochelle, NY and from The College of New Rochelle in 1945. She received two of the highest awards from the College of New Rochelle, the Angela Merici Medal and the Ursula Laurus Award. She earned a Masters Degree in Education from Columbia University in 1950. It is impossible to summarize a life so full of varied interests. She married her beloved husband John R Strachan on June 14, 1952 and moved to the Albany area in 1953, when her husband John partnered with her brother David Weir and purchased the Pepsi-Cola Albany Bottling Company. Devoutly Roman Catholic, Fran was an active member of the parish of St Pius X for 58 years. She took great pride in overseeing the church’s literature display, and participated in all aspects of parish life. She hummed incessantly around the house. Committed to exposing her children and grand-children to the music and dance she so loved, she dragged them (willing or not) to countless ballets, symphonies and operas at SPAC and other regional venues. Painful as these events may have been to her youthful companions, they learned what she thought they should. Fran continued to patronize the arts up to the very end. Never one to be typecast, she was a long-time member of the ladies nine-holers at Schuyler Meadows Country Club and took up bowling when in her 60s. She loved to chat with everyone she met, and having a chance to meet her was a memorable experience for thousands of people struck by her warmth. In later years, she was universally regarded as adorable. Fran served her community through countless charitable organizations including the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Knights of Malta, the Junior League of Albany, Teresian House, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Gilda’s Club. She was an active member of the Fort Orange Garden Club, the Junior Friday Morning Group and Schuyler Meadows Country Club. For over a decade, she wrote the Sustainers’ column for the Albany Junior League newsletter. Her contributions were notable for their matter-of-fact descriptions of people and events, and their unintended humor. She had an unquenchable thirst for learning, and enjoyed traveling extensively throughout her life. Fran is survived by her husband John Robert Strachan, daughters Mary Jo Strachan and husband Nicholas Ward of Scituate Massachusetts, Patricia O’Keeffe and husband Thomas O’Keeffe of Loudonville, Ellen Pappas and husband Michael Pappas of Menands, and Angela Strachan, and her son John Strachan, Jr, and wife Janie Strachan of Williamstown, Massachusetts. She was “Fifi” to her 16 beloved grandchildren. Fran was predeceased by her brother David Andrew Weir, Jr. Funeral services Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 10:00 am St. Pius X Church, Loudonville where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Monday, November 7, 2011 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street Albany. Interment St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1 Jeanne Jugan Lane, Latham, NY 12110 or www.littlesistersofthepoorlatham.org or the Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Rd. Lake Luzerne, NY 12846. To leave the family a special message on their guest book, obtain a prayer card or directions, or share a photo or E-card with them, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Frances Marie Weir Strachan

December 31, 1922 - November 2, 2011