Francoise Yvette Monique Blanche Nagel

Francoise Yvette Monique Blanche Nagel (nee Chauvergne), 81, of Lancaster, PA passed away peacefully with family by her side on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. She was born in Algiers, Algeria and was the daughter of the late Marcel Abel Hilaire Chauvergne and Yvette Jeanne Petit. She was the loving wife of George E. Nagel Jr., with whom she celebrated over 52 years of marriage or as they liked to say, 104 anniversaries. Her worldly adventures began in the French Colonial colonies in Africa, beginning with her birth during the WWII Allied combat in North Africa. As her father worked for the French Government overseeing the installation and operation of undersea communication cables to these colonies, she subsequently grew up in multiple colonies (now countries) on the sub-Saharan west coast of Africa through her pre-teen years. At that point, due to her father’s lung cancer diagnosis, the family moved to the family’s hometown of Saint-Jean-de-Braye, France, near Orleans. Her studies brought her to La Sorbonne University in Paris where she obtained her teaching degrees. Her desires for adventure and travel led to her first post-university job in Bellingham, WA, where she taught the children of French families assisting in the start-up of a Franco-American aluminum smelter, where she met George. Their friendship grew and they concluded they should experience a life of adventure together. As the official marriage in France is the Court House/Civil marriage, they first married in France. Upon their return to the USA following a honeymoon traveling in Europe, a church wedding was held in Cincinnati, OH, for the benefit of the groom's family. This quirk led to the tradition of Francoise and George having two anniversaries per year, thereby enabling them to celebrate 104 anniversaries of wedded bliss! Shortly after their return to Bellingham, they were transferred to Frederick, Maryland, arriving just in time to be greeted by Hurricane Agnes and its floods which destroyed all of their possessions and memories up until then. This devastating loss only strengthened their love for one another. Their daughter, Vanessa, was born a couple of years later. Subsequent transfers took the family to Texas, Paris and ultimately to Lancaster. As Francoise very much enjoyed teaching, she was brought onto the staff of Lancaster Country Day School to teach French, where she taught for almost two decades. As the best method for teaching a foreign language is by total immersion, Francoise strived to minimize the usage of spoken or written English in her classroom. She also sought to stimulate the development of an interest and understanding of other cultures, languages, and peoples of the world by organizing tours abroad for students during spring breaks. These trips were not confined to France but rather included multiple countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia over the years of her time at LCDS. As a born traveler with an adventurous spirit, she and George literally saw the world together. 5 continents, and 38 countries, not including her childhood homes. They loved learning about new cultures and experiencing how similar we humans are regardless of our home origins. She is now on her ultimate journey. In addition to her husband, George, Francoise is survived by her daughter, Vanessa C. Reisig, wife of Kenny Reisig of Lancaster and her two grandchildren, Alexandre and Julian Reisig. She loved the boys more than anything and cherished being their Mamie, caring for them when they were little, going on walks, and sleepovers, learning to fish with the boys and Papie and supporting their athletic and scouting journeys. She is preceded in death by her brother, Jean Chauvergne and stepbrother, Guy Boyer. Family, friends and former students are invited to Francoise’s Memorial Gathering at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024. A Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Come as you are, vibrant colors welcomed and encouraged. You may watch Francoise's Memorial Gathering here: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/5820217043 Memorial contributions can be made in her name to RachelsChallenge.org or Breast Cancer Research Foundation.