Francine Evans Timothy
February 18, 1923 - September 4, 2019
Our cherished friend, mother, grandmother and great grandmother lived a long and extraordinary life. Born in Ogden, Utah, she also lived in San Francisco, Washington DC, and then in Paris, France where she became an international expert on psychological rehabilitation. She then returned to live in Salt Lake city with family.
In the early 1970s, she was asked by the American Cancer Society to establish a program called Reach to Recovery in Europe. This program served women who had been operated for breast cancer, in a time when there was no reconstruction and “cancer” was a taboo word. Francine started the program in France, and went on to train thousands of volunteers in 39 countries to visit these patients and show by example that one could live a healthy life after cancer surgery. She was frequently invited to speak on psychological rehabilitation from cancer, and was often the only non-physician speaker at medical congresses. Francine went on to receive many honors, including France's Ordre du Mérite and her favorite, a tree garden named after her in Jerusalem.
Francine is survived by her two daughters, Jody Olsen and Francine Mahak (son David passed away in his youth), as well as Jody's children David Olsen and Kirsten Anderson, Francine's children Nima, Soroosh, and Cameron Mahak, and 4 great-grandchildren. She was also close to her sons-in-law Robert Olsen and Vali Mahak, to her sister-in-law Joyce Evans, and to her nieces Vicki Quan, Susie Scherr, and Anne Burgess.
She remained extraordinarily youthful throughout her 96 years, and somehow her mind and spirit never aged. Her friends and family all deeply miss her grace, kindness, wisdom, and humor.
A memorial will be held on Friday, October 11, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building.
Please check back soon for tribute video.
In Loving Memory
Dear Francine & Vali, What a beautiful life she lived, we are so very sorry for your loss. Please accept our deepest condolences. Susan & Mohsen
Remembering Francine Wonderful Francine—we talked for three hours at a time, the most searching and satisfying talks of my lifetime. We sat around making up titles for books we were going to write. My favorite was “Homemade Hand-Me-Downward.” She knew how to be whacky, how to play. She also knew how to celebrate, how to rejoice. And we talked about writing. She could write like nobody’s business. Here are a few lines from a piece she brought to one of our sessions: “What still unknown will I miss when I am gone? I know....It is the joy of discovery along the way to a ‘where’ I didn’t know existed.” In her absence, I’m learning a different thing about bereft. And grateful.
Cindy and Vali and Family, I’m sending long thoughts and condolences to you on the loss of your wonderful Francine. Thank you for sharing her. (This didn’t get included in my other piece but I wanted to be sure you knew I’m thinking of you.)
Dearest Family of Francine, We miss our friend, our spiritual coach, the best coffee maker, the most prompt, the most willing to laugh, the smartest, the sly way she had of handling the unpopular, the brave and oh so tolerant, the magic she brought to every encounter, the fun and the food and the champagne to celebrate just about everything. With that in mind, Bill, Susie and I are sharing a coup de champagne in honor of you, Francine. Til we meet again❤️❤️❤️
In Loving Memory
