Obituary of France Cecile Monk

France Cecile Monk (age 78) cherished mother and devoted wife went to be with her Savior after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. France (often called "Francie" by her friends), was born on October 26, 1944, in Montreal, Canada.

Fluent in both English and French, she completed her formal education with a degree in nursing from the Hospital Maisonneuve Ecole d' lnfirmirmieres in Montreal in 1965.  In 1967, France moved to San Francisco with her sister, Michelle (also a nurse) and found work at the French Hospital. During this time, she met a Naval Officer, Ron Monk, who stole her heart. Ron and France were married in 1969 in Montreal. After Ron left the Navy in 1970 and for a brief time in Sacramento, they eventually settled in North Fork, California where Ron worked as a forester. During this time, Ron and France were blessed with two children - Nathalie and Gregory. In 1979 they were transferred to Amador County where France continued her nursing career until 1983. God then led the couple to pursue a ministry opportunity by purchasing the Lighthouse Christian Bookstore in Pine Grove. France managed the store while Ron continued his forestry work. Over the next 25 years, they relocated and enlarged the store several times within the Jackson area of Amador County. France, a Canadian citizen up to this time, proudly received her American citizenship on February 21, 1996. Even though France was educated in parochial schools, she never considered herself "religious" however, she said she always had a heart for God and always wanted to serve Him with her life. At one point in her education, she even considered serving God as a missionary, but she thought she would have to become a Nun and stay single which cooled her on the idea. Early in her marriage, France really developed a personal relationship with Christ as her Savior and Lord and gave her life to Him. The Lord led Ron and Francie to sell the bookstore in 2007 to allow France to care for her mother-in-law who was suffering from dementia. After the death of her mother-in-law, France lived an active life helping maintain their property, volunteering at church, doing Bible studies with friends, taking lengthy daily walks, and spending time with her children and grandchildren who lived in other states. Also, she loved to cook, and that gift led her into another mission field involving feeding the local homeless population every Friday. She acquired the name "soup lady" and prepared gourmet soup and sandwiches for about five years delivering the food at Deiter Park, under bridges, in shopping centers and anywhere else she could find them. During this time, she shared her faith (although she considered herself a "chicken" in witnessing) and became close friends with many of the homeless. God is amazing! France had always wanted to serve God and had expressed interest in both running a Christian bookstore and helping the homeless years before either of these opportunities came about. God was faithfully working out the details behind the scenes and France was an obedient servant.

France is preceded in death by her father, Henri Ranger and her mother, Marguerite Ranger. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Monk, by her daughter, Nathalie (Todd) Barrett, by her son, Gregory Monk, and by her sister, Michelle (Don) Knapper. Additionally, she is survived by four grandchildren (Corey, Collin, Macie, and Marisa) and three great grandchildren (Malachi, Cosette, and Blake.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Benevolence fund at Church of the Nazarene if you feel led. They have a great team that helps the local community in need https://www.scnaz.org/give.

A celebration of Gods work in France's life will be held at Church of the Nazarene on Monday, August 28, 2023, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Appetizers will be served, 14050 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek, CA 95685.