1937
Frances Bekelja Hamacher
2024
Frances Bekelja Hamacher
September 20, 1937 — April 28, 2024
Durham
Frances Ann (Bekelja) Hamacher, formerly of Bressler, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, at the age of 86. Fran was married to the late Brigadier General Lawrence Hamacher Jr (Ham) and the daughter of the late Frances and Larry Bekelja.
Fran was born in Bressler, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest of 4 siblings. Predeceased by her brothers Larry and Michael (Mickey) she leaves her brother Ken Bekelja. Fran was raised in Bressler with the values of faith, family, and sports that would define her entire life.
Fran was a proud graduate of Catholic High School (Bishop McDevitt). Her first marriage to Paul J. Feldman, brought the joy to her first three boys Mark, Scott, and Paul L. Feldman. Her second marriage to Ham saw the family expanded to add a sister, Dottie (Hamacher) Dunn, and another son, Lawrence Levi Hamacher III. Fran and Ham shared a marriage of 29 years. Fran was a wonderful wife and mother raising her family with the values instilled by her parents.
One of Fran's greatest joys was family gatherings with Turkey Bowl football games and Thanksgiving and beach vacations with the entire family highly anticipated. She continued her engagement with family throughout her life and was actively involved in all of her grandchildren's lives and events. After family, Fran truly enjoyed working as an administrative assistant in law firms and coordinator for the grand jury of PA while in Harrisburg. After relocating to Durham, NC. Fran served as an assistant to several law professors at Duke University Law School. While always a Duke fan, her time at Duke saw her volunteering for Duke sports with her favorite being an usher for men's basketball. Her grandkids loved to spot her on TV behind the bench with the same intense look on her face as Coach Krzyzewski's. Fran had an unwavering faith and was an active member of Holy Infant Catholic Church, volunteering in the church office, as an eucharistic minister and other community services such as Meals on Wheels.
Fran is survived by 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her values of faith, family, and sports will continue to live on in all our hearts. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 11:00 am at Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham. Friends and family are all invited to attend and stay for a reception in the church hall after. Fran will be laid to rest with her beloved Ham at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Donations in Fran's name can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate in support of our Military and First Responders or to Duke Hospice https://www.givetodukeathome.org/
For funeral mass information, directions or to contact the family,
Fran was born in Bressler, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest of 4 siblings. Predeceased by her brothers Larry and Michael (Mickey) she leaves her brother Ken Bekelja. Fran was raised in Bressler with the values of faith, family, and sports that would define her entire life.
Fran was a proud graduate of Catholic High School (Bishop McDevitt). Her first marriage to Paul J. Feldman, brought the joy to her first three boys Mark, Scott, and Paul L. Feldman. Her second marriage to Ham saw the family expanded to add a sister, Dottie (Hamacher) Dunn, and another son, Lawrence Levi Hamacher III. Fran and Ham shared a marriage of 29 years. Fran was a wonderful wife and mother raising her family with the values instilled by her parents.
One of Fran's greatest joys was family gatherings with Turkey Bowl football games and Thanksgiving and beach vacations with the entire family highly anticipated. She continued her engagement with family throughout her life and was actively involved in all of her grandchildren's lives and events. After family, Fran truly enjoyed working as an administrative assistant in law firms and coordinator for the grand jury of PA while in Harrisburg. After relocating to Durham, NC. Fran served as an assistant to several law professors at Duke University Law School. While always a Duke fan, her time at Duke saw her volunteering for Duke sports with her favorite being an usher for men's basketball. Her grandkids loved to spot her on TV behind the bench with the same intense look on her face as Coach Krzyzewski's. Fran had an unwavering faith and was an active member of Holy Infant Catholic Church, volunteering in the church office, as an eucharistic minister and other community services such as Meals on Wheels.
Fran is survived by 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her values of faith, family, and sports will continue to live on in all our hearts. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 11:00 am at Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham. Friends and family are all invited to attend and stay for a reception in the church hall after. Fran will be laid to rest with her beloved Ham at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Donations in Fran's name can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate in support of our Military and First Responders or to Duke Hospice https://www.givetodukeathome.org/
For funeral mass information, directions or to contact the family,
reach out to Amy and Larry Hamacher at alhamacher@gmail.com or 215-847-6393.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frances Bekelja Hamacher, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Funeral Mass
Saturday, June 8, 2024
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)
Holy Infant Catholic Church
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