WRIGHT, Frances

Frances Beverley Wright died May 30, 2025 at the age of 93. Always a great lover of literature, it is fitting that her life had all the elements of a good story.  Fran bounced into the world in July 1931, the first of three children born to Frank Wright and his wife Maud Frances Marguerite Smart. Fran grew up in Rosemount with her siblings, Marj and Pete, surrounded by grandparents and cousins. Her love of reading and arts set the direction of her academic career. A BA at McGill was followed by a Teaching certificate at Bishops so that she could share her passion, and later she earned a Master’s in literature at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Her teaching career included teaching Latin and English at Lindsay Place, John Rennie and Beaconsfield High Schools, being English Language Consultant for the School Board, lecturer and student teacher supervisor at McGill and a long association with the Canadian College of Teachers, receiving the Croskery Award. Fran had a huge appetite for all forms of art, enjoying and supporting art galleries, theatre, ballet, opera, music and writing. She wrote poems for special occasions and every Christmas letter. Not simply a bookworm, Fran enjoyed travelling and adventure, played bridge, tennis, skied, golfed, curled, sang in choirs and bird watched. Fran also supported her church St. Genevieve United. Fran cherished her family and friends and went out of her way to keep in touch and maintain relationships to the end. Every good story has challenges and obstacles to scale and Fran’s life is a good story. She devotely cared for her mother for many years. She survived breast cancer, and other ailments. In her mid-seventies, a new bridge partner, Bob Léger, took her for dinner, brought her a rose, and swept her off her feet. They married, and had many happy years together enjoying their families, bridge and travel together before Bob’s death. Fran missed her soul mate but continued to enjoy life as she had always done. Gradually, her activities and life wound down, however, her mind remained sharp inside a failing body.  It was in her mind a good life, but she was tired and ready to turn the last page. During her turn to be cared for, her caregivers at Manoir de l’Ouest de l’île and her companion Ellen Macdonald provided devoted and loving attention. Fran loved life. She wore happy, bright, flowery clothing and that’s how we hope you will remember her. She is survived by her sister Marjorie (late Douglas Phillips), brother Peter Wright (Kathy Laidly), nieces and nephews, and the family of her late husband Robert Leger.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate her life will take place at Voluntas Funeral Home, 4695 St-Jean Blvd., Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Qc H9H 2A7, on Friday, August 15, 2025 from 1-3 p.m. A reception will follow, please confirm your presence to Daphné.