Muriel Franc

Muriel Robinson Franc, 87, of Oakland ascended to paradise and joined the choirs of angels on Monday, February 11, 2019.  Born on July 17, 1931, in Fairmont, WV, she was the daughter of the late Felix G. and Lucille (Henry) Robinson.  Muriel has been reunited with her beloved husband, Albert “Pat” F. Franc, Jr., who passed away in 1983.  Though born in Fairmont, WV, Muriel grew up primarily in Oakland, as Garrett County was the home of multiple generations of her family.  She attended grade school in Oakland prior to her young musical talents earning her a place at the Peabody Institute of Baltimore where she also attended Towson Catholic High School, graduating in 1949.  Afterwards, Muriel moved to New York City, working various jobs while attending the prestigious Juilliard School.  She was a professionally trained vocalist, pianist, cellist and harpist who passed along her talents to her family and countless others as a teacher (including many years at St. Margaret’s School in Greentree, PA), coach and friend. She performed with the Mendelssohn Choir and Civic Light Opera, both in Pittsburgh, PA.  While raising her nine children, she was the former organist and choir director of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA, for many years.  Coming back to her childhood home in Oakland in 1998, Muriel performed in numerous local venues both in Oakland and the Deep Creek Lake area.  She was the accompanist for the Garrett Choral Society and shared her skills with both St Paul’s United Methodist Church and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oakland.  She was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Oakland, which had been the location of Muriel and Pat’s wedding in 1954.   In addition to her love of music and family, Muriel was an avid Scrabble player who could beat any opponent, a voracious reader, and talented cook and baker who loved to host and entertain.  She was devoted to feeding the menagerie of birds who visited her up to the last of her days.  Muriel is survived by nine children, Patrick (Barbara) Franc of Oakland, Joa BonGiorni of Reston, VA, Brian (Tina) Franc of Fairhope, AL, Bernard (Laura) Franc of Foxboro, MA, Matthew (Deborah) Franc of Erie, PA, Cecilia (Jim Hofrichter) Franc of Canonsburg, PA, John (Frannie) Franc of Newtown, PA, Mark (Julie) Franc of Carnegie, PA, and Martha Franc of Washington, PA; twenty-eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; a brother, Ariel D. Robinson of Swanton; and two sisters, Heather Ferguson and Monica Martoff, both of Carnegie, PA.  Friends will be received at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Thursday, February 14th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM.  A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 208 S 4th St., Oakland on Friday, February 15th at 9 AM with Fr. Doug Kenney as celebrant.  Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery.