Franziska Muennich Scholz

A life of strength, devotion, and enduring love.

On October 2, 2015, in Medina, Ohio, Franziska Muennich Scholz passed away at the age of 84.

Franziska was born November 5, 1930, in the region of Yugoslavia now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her early years were shaped by the turmoil of World War II. She was part of the ethnic German community living in the region—families who had lived there for generations. When the war ended and Yugoslavia emerged on the side of the Allied powers, many ethnic German civilians were collectively punished because of their heritage and perceived association with Germany. As a result, Franziska and her family were placed in labor camps during those difficult years.

They were unimaginably hard years, especially for a young girl. Yet through resilience and determination, her family endured and survived the camps. She and her family were released sometime between 1948 and 1950 and eventually made their way to Germany, beginning again with little more than courage and hope for a better future.

In 1956, Franziska – known to her friends and family as Franci – boarded a ship bound for the United States with most of her family. On that voyage across the Atlantic, she met George Scholz—and the rest, as they say, was history. That journey did more than carry them to a new country; it marked the beginning of a shared life and a love story that would shape the years ahead and the family they would raise together.

Franci and George were married on September 7, 1957, and together they built their life in Cleveland, Ohio, raising two children. In 1977, they built a new home and moved to Medina, Ohio, where they lived happily for the remainder of their years together.

Franci was loving, loyal, and—by her family’s affectionate admission—stubborn. That same strength carried her through the unimaginable trials of her youth and into the life she created for her family. For those fortunate enough to marry into that family, once she welcomed you, you were hers—fully and forever.

She loved cooking and gathering family around the table. Her multi-layer Tortes, Kartofel Salat/potato salad, Rouladen/beef rolls, and other favorite dishes were more than food—they were a daily expression of love, care, and tradition.

Franci especially doted on her grandchildren, delighting in their stories, accomplishments, and everyday joys. She always made them feel cherished and celebrated. She would drop everything to make pancakes whenever her grandson Kevin visited – a small gesture that perfectly captured her love and devotion.

She was also quietly creative. A self-taught painter, she filled her home with artwork that today remains treasured by her family. Her paintings captured her love of nature, each brushstroke reflecting the care she brought to everything she did.

Above all, Franci was devoted to her family and to George, the love of her life. Together they built a life marked by perseverance, partnership, and deep affection.

Survived by (as of 2026) her daughter, Mariana RS Hess, and her husband, Andrew; son, Richard A. Scholz, and his wife, Loria; sister, Therese Kuchenmeister; brother, Otto Muennich; sister-in-law, Betty Scholz; beloved grandchildren, Nathan, Brian, Jonathan, Michael, Nicholas, Robert, and Selene; and eight great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her adored grandson, Kevin, and six siblings in both the U.S. and Germany.

Together again with George, the love of her life.

Their story continues in the family they created.

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