Francha Menhard, age 76, of Hadera, Israel passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of February 5th after a struggle with dementia. Francha was born on December 9, 1949, to Flora (Witkowski) and Henry (Hank) Menhard in New York and spent much of her young life growing up in Texas. Born as Margaret, she went by Peggy in her younger years until she entered the convent and took the name Francha.

Francha graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1971 with a teaching degree. Teaching was a true passion, and she excelled in teaching English as a second language and in writing. Throughout her career she taught children in elementary school and high school. Always the imaginative person she spent hours decorating her classrooms making them fun places of learning. She even had a pup tent in her elementary classroom where students could steal away and read quietly. She wrote seven different books for Enslow Publishers as part of an Issues in Focus series for teens covering topics like school violence and drugs. She often dabbled in writing other manuscripts that were never published – all fictional stories for kids – the adventures of Neely and String and others. She was constantly surrounded by notebooks filled with her writings. She enjoyed the study of languages and was fluent in Spanish with a strong command of Japanese and German. She studied Mandarin and Hebrew as well and enjoyed any opportunity to converse with people from around the world – always with a smile, quick wit, and a friendly openness to learn about the other. Her teaching and writing took her to Japan where she lived (for the first time) for three years teaching English and working for Panasonic as a technical writer. Always an adventurer, she enjoyed her time and travels while living in Japan.

Francha returned to the United States and met Ken (Kenny as she called him) Rappe in 1986 and started a lifelong romance. Ken and Francha shared a love of travel and adventure. Francha tried skiing for a short while as Ken loved the sport. They went scuba diving together and they traveled the world and went to over 100 countries before his death in 2010. Travel was a part of Francha’s soul, and she explored every part of the world she could making friends and new ‘family’ everywhere she went. She and Ken hosted exchange students from Germany and Japan and sponsored a brother and sister fleeing Ethiopia as refugees. Her influence grew the family to be one that was international, spanning the world.

Francha was a creative. From writing and genealogy to scrapbooking and sewing to jewelry making she liked to stay busy. In her younger years, she could always be found behind a sewing machine making ski outfits, dresses, suits and other patterns. She was musically inclined, playing the guitar and possessing a beautiful singing voice. She could always be found singing little love songs to Ken (or her dachshunds) or tunes from across genres, a favorite being Ain’t She Sweet from the late 20’s. She listened to all types of music and loved the flutist, James Galway. She and Ken shared the song (They Long to Be) Close to You by the Carpenters, which she sang to him often.

Francha finished her professional career in 1997 at Abraham Lincoln HS in Denver, CO where she taught ESOL and Yearbook. She retired early due to a traumatic brain injury that she suffered in a car accident in 1992 with Ken. After the accident, her brain operated differently making teaching difficult. Eventually instead of teaching and sewing she could be found checking out the newest technology – computers. She was an early adopter of technology and from then on always had the latest gadget or phone where she was always “connected.” She always fell asleep listening to something - news, a book, podcast or music.

After Ken’s death Francha continued to travel the world with her friends and stepdaughter Jennifer. She returned to Japan in 2013 to live again amongst her friends. Eventually, she decided to move to Israel, following her Jewish heritage, making Aliyah and settling in where she studied Judaism and met Hani Barak. Hani helped Francha, becoming another member of Francha’s extended family. They lived together for several years, and she helped in her studies and with medical issues, caring for her until Francha’s death.

Francha is survived by her brother David Menhard, niece Sarah Menhard, nephew Zachary Menhard and wife Susie Yin, stepdaughter Jennifer Van Vleet (Rappe), stepson Steven Rappe and many other ‘adopted children’ as she called them that Francha showed care and kindness to throughout the years. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Rappe, brother Robert (Bob) Menhard, and parents Flora and Henry (Hank) Menhard.

She was a light and joy to many and will be missed. May she and Ken dance among the stars in an eternal embrace until we meet again.

A Memorial Service celebrating Francha's life will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 11:00AM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood.

Please share your memories of Francha and condolences with her family by signing the guest book below.