Frances Irene Koegel

Frances Irene (O’Neil) Koegel passed away peacefully at age 87 on Sunday, January 8, 2023, in Long Beach, California, in her home of the last 51 years.  Her son, Tom, and daughter, Kathryn, were with her as she left to join David, her husband, who had passed in September 2016.

Fran was born on April 15, 1935, in Globe, Arizona, to Francis Xavier O’Neil, Jr., and Irene Adelaide Caretto. Frank began working for Standard Oil of California in the early 1930s and continuing throughout the war. As a result, the family moved frequently within California as his job demanded. Fran was an only child and extremely close to her parents and her Boston Terrier Jiggs. By 1949, the family had settled permanently in Long Beach. Fran made lifelong friends at St. Anthony High School, from which she graduated in 1952. She received her Bachelor of Science from Immaculate Heart College in 1956. Fran found the nuns and their commitment to social action an amazing inspiration. The artist Corita was one of her teachers, and she supported the nuns as they became social workers in the 1960s.

She originally intended to become a hospital dietician, but a stint as a substitute teacher at Hollywood High changed her career direction forever. She was proud of her extra studies through which she obtained an unusual general secondary credential that allowed her to teach a wide variety of disciplines. Her first full time job was at Glendale High School, where she became part of the legendary “Glendale Gang” of young and dynamic teachers.

Her 41-year teaching career began in Home Economics. She took particular joy when, after the advent of Title IX, the previous “girls only” Home Ec classes were joined by “Bachelor Living.” As she related, boys were less picky about what was cooked and would eat anything—even if the biscuits were burnt. Fran’s family enjoyed being out in Long Beach with her, as she would often be approached by grown men who wanted to say hello to “Mrs. Koegel” and who remembered how to make lasagna and Baked Alaska. Her own children are happy that she set them on a lifelong love of food – and cleaning up.

As the schools deemphasized Home Economics, she taught many other classes. She was particularly proud of her work in a social-studies program which helped smart underachievers, many of them children of recent immigrants, succeed. Her students won state competitions in expressing what the United States meant to them. She remained at Bancroft Junior High School in Long Beach for over 35 years, finally retiring at the age of 67.

Early in her teaching career, she met her lifelong husband, David Lawrence Koegel at a dance for alumni of Catholic Colleges. The scholarly Dave and the social, vivacious Fran were a complementary couple. They were married at St. Athanasius Church in Long Beach on August 13, 1960, by Dave’s closest brother, the Reverend Thomas Martin Koegel, the namesake of their son.

Two children followed (Thomas Francis, 1961, and Kathryn Irene, 1963). Fran took a few years off to focus on the toddlers. By 1968, though, she returned to her passion for teaching. Throughout her life she remained close friends and lunch buddies with the “Bancroft Group,” who join the family in mourning our loss.

Her retirement (and Dave’s) was enlivened by grandchildren:  Matthew LaFollette Koegel was born in 1996 to Tom and Anne LaFollette; and Kathryn’s Theodore David Maiorescu and Lucia Maiorescu followed thereafter (2002 and 2003). She reveled in her grandchildren’s achievements and attention. Just before her illness, she spoke to friends and neighbors about her excitement that Lucia (Lulu), now 18, had called Fran after voting for the first time.

Ever proud of her Irish and Italian heritage, Fran saw Notre Dame as the pinnacle of Roman Catholic achievement in the US – and of course, football – while she favored Italian food and the risotto con funghi and homemade ravioli of her mother.

Fran and Dave were devoted members of their Church. Over the years, they were parishioners at St. Athanasius, St. Barnabas, and St. Cornelius in Long Beach. She and Dave were founding members of the young couples’ St. Athanasius Discussion Group in the 1970s, and through their passionate discussions of their faith – and casseroles – found lifelong friends. After the Church began to encourage lay people to serve as Eucharistic Ministers, they did so for many years although Fran worried that the white robes made them look like the Pillsbury Doughboy. In this, and in many other things, Fran’s sense of humor prevailed.

Fran’s father had attended Notre Dame in the Rockne era (he played football, basketball and baseball), and her passion for the school grew as Tom attended. The neighbors knew when the Irish were playing from Fran’s vigorous shouts of “Get ’em!”

Fran’s family and friends are cheered by memories of her warm presence and ability to make new friends at every stage of life. She is survived by Tom, his wife Anne La Follette, and Matt; Kathryn, Theo, and Lulu; and by the many people she touched on Chestnut Avenue, Glendale, Bancroft, her various parishes, and her favorite breakfast spot at Jongewaard’s Bake ’n’ Broil. Her discussions of sports, politics, and the latest plots of Blue Bloods will be missed.

A requiem mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 13, at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 5500 East Wardlow Road (cross:  Bellflower Blvd.) in Long Beach. A luncheon reception will follow; contact the family for details. While Fran loved flowers, she also loved and cared for her communities in need. The family suggests donations to the Food Finders food bank in Lakewood ( http://www.foodfinders.org/ ); the Immaculate Heart Community ( https://www.immaculateheartcommunity.org/ ); and the Precious Life Shelter ( https://www.preciouslifeshelter.org/ ).

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401