Francine L. Fleisher, 90, of Lebanon, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Cornwall Manor, where her loved ones stayed with her around the clock. She was the wife of the late Samuel W. Fleisher, with whom she moved to Pennsylvania after 50 years in Maryland, including living at Leisure World, where they had many friends.
Born in Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 1936, Francine was the daughter of the late Morris and Martha (Soffe) Oltman. As a young girl, Francine played with her toy nurse’s kit on the bed while her mother was dying; that experience ignited her interest in and lifelong love of nursing. When she was 9, Francine’s father remarried, and her second mother, Annette (Strasburg) Oltman, gave her lots of love and helped shape her life.
Francine achieved her goal of becoming a registered nurse and planned to join the Navy, but instead married the love of her life, Samuel, and together they raised two children. Francine worked as a hospital nurse and an allergy nurse before indulging in her joy of fashion by working at Laura Ashley. Once she and Samuel retired, Francine developed numerous interests, along with traveling together. She joined a theatre group, took voice lessons and tap dancing lessons, and loved being on stage.
Her many interests included gardening and plants, and Francine was always on the lookout for unique plants like the cactus orchid she had entrusted to her gardening-challenged daughter. Francine had a flair for home decor and enjoyed antiquing. She loved learning new things and frequently watched the Nature Channel to learn about animal behavior. Francine cared about the world and remained engaged in current events until the end.
Family was everything to Francine, and she reveled in time spent with her husband, children, and son-in-law, who affectionately nicknamed her “twinkle-toes.” Francine, who always bloomed where she was planted, had many close friends at Cornwall Manor among both residents and staff. She lived life to the fullest and was a reminder to all of us to be true to ourselves, surround ourselves with beauty, and really live until we die.
She is survived by her daughter, Mindy Beth Bickel, wife of Mark; and son, Thomas James Barrett.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at 1 p.m., at Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery, 370 E. Maple St., Lebanon, PA 17046.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Francine Fleisher may be mailed to Cornwall Manor, P.O. Box 125, Attn: Advancement Office, Cornwall, PA 17016. Thompson Funeral Home Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. The family welcomes your memories and messages in Thompson Funeral Home’s online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com.
