Françoise A. Bebbington

Bebbington, Françoise Andrée (née Dominique)

8 February, 1938 (Paris, France) – 1 December, 2023 (Ottawa, Canada).

Françoise left us late in the evening, following a day of visits from family and friends.

Beloved wife to David for over 55 years, loving and affectionate mother to Lionel (Kristin), and Sonia (David), and doting Nanou to Graydon, Owen, Foster, Bronwen and Hadley. She adored her brother Gérard (Jacqueline) who made her laugh the hardest, and her beloved cousins Philippe (Josiane), Claude (the late Walda), and the late Chantal Brasseur, who were as siblings to her, as well as many friends in both Canada and France: Claudette Gauvreau (the late Léo) and family, Monique Bordier (the late Jean-Pierre), the late Anne-Marie Valier (Nicholas Bogatko), and many more. Françoise was also a loved sister-in-law to Wendy (the late Bill) Owen, and Auntie to David Owen and to Sarah (James) Hills, and their children.  She is predeceased by her parents Jean-Baptiste Dominique (1900-1940), and Gisèle Lucie Renaux (1909-1997), her grandparents Georges and Jeanne Renaux who helped to raise her following the early loss of her father, along with her Aunt Edmée and Uncle Maurice Brasseur

Françoise loved people, travel, words, music, and laughter.  After studying languages at the Sorbonne, she worked for Air France and explored the world, landing for the summer in Montreal in 1967 where she worked at the Pavilion de France, and met David.  A short stint back in France for a job hosting dignitaries at the 1968 winter games in Grenoble, she and David married in October of that year in Paris, and then settled in Toronto.  Françoise spoke three languages and was a gifted translator for the remainder of her career.

Françoise was unflaggingly positive and extraordinarily affectionate. Equally delighted with the highest culture and the deepest silliness, Françoise was elegant, funny, and a joy to be around.  Universally loved, she was herself a deeply loving person and a wonderful family member and friend. 

Our heartfelt gratitude to Françoise’s care teams at Hazeldean Gardens and at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.

Though her memory faltered in her final months, her love and affection were constant. A celebration of Françoise’s life will be held at a later date; donations in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada.