Frances Haspel Obituary

Durango resident Frances Louise Herrick Haspel died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 at her home. She was 91.

Known as "Fran" or "Babe," she was born to Richard Platt Herrick and Anna Gulbin Herrick on July 6, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The youngest of four children, she was raised in Cooperstown, N.Y. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1942 with a bachelor of arts in music education.

Her family said Mrs. Haspel was a talented vocalist and went to New York City to pursue a professional career with the Morris Agency. She was placed as the lead entertainer at the Beverly Gardens Club in New Orleans.

In 1946, she met and married L. Richard Haspel in New Orleans. The marriage later ended in divorce.

Mrs. Haspel was a choir member at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and an active tennis player in New Orleans for many decades.

During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she was evacuated by a SWAT team and moved to Durango to be near her son, Jeffry Haspel and his family.

In Durango she was involved in numerous activities at the Durango-La Plata County Senior Center.

Mrs. Haspel was preceded in death by her former husband, L. Richard Haspel, in 2007; and eldest son, Richard Herrick Haspel in 2011.

She is survived by her son, Jeffry Haspel of Durango; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 910 East Third Ave., in Durango. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

Online condolences may be sent in the obituary section at www.hoodmortuary.com.