Fran is survived by three stepchildren: Gerry Rude of Medicine Hat, Grant (Patti) Rude of Edmonton, and Donna Rude of Oliver, BC; step-grandchildren Carling Gerlinsky, Lisa Rude and Max Rude; and step-great grandson Nicholas; as well as sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Besides her loving husband Victor, she was predeceased by her parents, six siblings, three brothers-in-law and step-granddaughter Brittany Jade Gerlinsky.

Fran was raised in Quebec, primarily in Westmount. She moved to Lethbridge briefly in 1964, then returned to take up permanent residence in 1966. She worked for Alberta Social Services for 28 years. At the time of her retirement in 1994, she was the Regional Supervisor of Foster Care Services in Southern Alberta.

She married Vic Rude on May 18, 1968. Together, they loved to travel, fly their airplane, sailing, boating, golfing and the Arts, particularly live theatre, music, and visual arts. During their retirement years together, they enjoyed their vacation homes in Montana and California, until Vic succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease in 2008.

A creative person, Fran was passionate about the performing Arts, particularly live theatre in all its forms. She worked continuously in the local arts community for 50 years: first as an actor and singer, then turned to directing in 1978. She directed 60+ major productions in the community, both plays and musicals and always tried to sustain the creative energies of all those involved by selecting works which rose well above the ordinary. She had tremendous respect for audiences and was dedicated to their experiencing something which would move them in some way. She formed a long-lasting creative partnership and friendship with both the music director Ken Rogers, and stage manager Nancy Graham, which continued until her death.

Fran was a staunch supporter of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, the U of L Conservatory Youth Strings Orchestra and the (Kiwanis) Lethbridge Music and Speech Arts Festival. She received several awards for her contribution to the Arts, most notably the Woman of Distinction in the Arts Award (1985), an Alberta Centennial Medal (2005), and most recently the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022) and the Allied Arts Joan Waterfield Memorial Award (2023). In 2019, she, along with colleagues Ken Rogers and Nancy Graham, received an Inspiring Philanthropy Award, AFP AB, Southern Chapter.

At Fran’s request, no funeral service will be held. Those wishing to pay their respects or share memories are invited to a reception at the LETHBRIDGE SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION, 500 – 11 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, February 10th, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (lethseniors.com), the Lethbridge Music Festival (lethmsf.org) or the Alzheimer Society (Alzheimer.ca).

“When I am gone, do not speak of me in a Sunday voice. Be your usual selves whom I always have known. Weep if you must, parting is hell. But Life goes on, so SING, as well.” (Joyce Grenfell, actor, and author)