70 year resident of Los Altos passes at age 93.

Heaven welcomed a world class voice to its heavenly choir with the passing of Frances Eugenia Kump (née Herlihy) on June 17, 2025, at her home in Los Altos, California, at the age of 93. Frances, known for her warm heart, generous spirit, unforgettable laughter and movie-star smile, was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a cherished friend to many, whose legacy will live on in all who knew her. 

Born on April 6, 1932, in San Francisco, Frances was the daughter of local boy Leo J. Herlihy and her mother Helena Kekumualii Reis, a school teacher and musician, native of Honolulu, HI, who carried with her a proud royal Hawaiian lineage through her mother, Eugenia Keohookalani Reis. Shortly after her birth, the young family travelled back to Hawaii to introduce the first (and only) grandchild to her Hawaiian ohana, who were elated at their return. Unfortunately, Helena suffered from lingering complications from childbirth and tragically died just prior to Fran’s second birthday. 

To compound the tragedy, Fran’s relatively successful and well-connected Hawaiian family were desperate to pass on their culture to the next generation so sued for custody of Frances, against her father. Leo won the bitter custody battle so took baby Frances back to San Francisco and subsequently cut off all ties to Fran’s island relatives.

Leo proceeded to raise Frances as a single father, but with the help of his extended family, Fran was loved and well cared for. Leo bought a home in Belmont and enrolled Frances in the local private Catholic girls school, Notre Dame De Namur, which she attended from kindergartener all the way through to graduation from college with a B/A in Business and minor in Music and Performing Arts. Fran often said she was raised mainly by nuns.

Early on, her teachers recognized Fran’s love of music and encouraged her father to enroll her in voice and piano lessons, which she eagerly pursued, even taking the train weekly by herself to mentor sessions in San Francisco from age 12 and beyond. She participated in all the school musical productions through high school and college, often in a starring role. Her voice, trained for opera, was acclaimed for its tone and depth and her natural flair for the dramatic enhanced her performances. She had plans to study further in Europe, after graduation, and eventually going pro, but marriage and family got in the way of that dream.

It was through her theatrical work at school that Fran met Charlie Kump, who sometimes worked in the technical aspects of those productions. Their personalities were quite the contrast: she a flighty, vivacious, outgoing performer, where he was reserved and a “brainiac” with a dry sense of humor. It somehow worked though.  Frances Herlihy married Charles G. Kump on August 21, 1954, in San Mateo, California, and they bought their first home in Los Altos later that year. Her husband was an Engineering grad of Santa Clara University, whose job with GTE Sylvania often involved field work, which meant travel both domestically and internationally. It also caused the family to temporarily relocate to New Mexico and Massachusetts for a total of 7 years in the 1960s. Most of his projects involved aspects of telecommunications.

Together they raised two sons, David and John. Fran was supportive of her kids education and after school activities, from den mother, to sideline cheerleader, to encouraging Dave’s venture into rock music and John’s passion for cars. 

Soon after Fran and Chuck celebrated 30 years of marriage, Charles was diagnosed with gastric cancer which took him a year later in 1985, way too early at 53 years old,..just before the first of their grandchildren was born.

Fran was devastated by Chuck’s passing, but fortunately was well provided for, due to her husband’s careful planning. To cope, she decided to pursue her three passions, music, travel and community service. She poured her heart into service, volunteering with Catholic Charities, serving on the board of Villa Siena Retirement Home, and supporting the work of a non-profit Convalescent Hospital Activity Directors (C.H.A.D.)

Fran was very aware of her unusual ethic makeup, Irish, English, French and Mohawk Indian from her father, and Portuguese and Hawaiian from her mother. While Frances knew from an early age that she was part Hawaiian, she knew little of her island ohana until late in life, thanks to a visit from her mother’s best friend who made a special trip to tell her stories of her somewhat famous Hawaiian relatives. After that visit, she shared what she learned with her boys, who in turn, caught the spark to begin their own research project into their interesting genealogical history.

Fran loved her sons and their growing families. She relished opportunities to celebrate all the occasions such as baptisms and birthdays, graduations and holiday activities, such as Easter egg hunts and costuming for Halloween. Spending time with her grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren brought her immense joy. And everyone affectionately called her “Tutu”, which is grandmother in Hawaiian.

She also poured that same warmth into her personal life—building lifelong friendships and embracing everyone from neighbors to housekeepers as part of her extended family. She needed to be around people, so instead of having the house to herself, she rented out rooms in her home to a wide variety of people over the years, who also became friends.

Fran remained a single widow for more than 30 years until at the age of 85 she partnered with Henry Lee Nattrass, the widower of one of her close friends. They shared a love of travel and movies. In later years, as Fran’s health condition got progressively worse, Lee became her full-time caretaker, until after a serious fall in 2024, her son David moved her back to her house and cared for her to the end with the help of a great caregiver.

Frances was a woman of faith, deeply devoted to her Roman Catholic faith and a long time member of St. Simons Catholic Church and a featured member of the Church Choir for many years.

Frances lived life to the fullest. Her tales from her many international trips were legendary. She was a gracious hostess, loved to bring people together, and never missed an opportunity to host or attend a good party, though she was rarely on time to them! Her vibrant personality and deep empathy made her a loyal friend to many, and her legacy of generosity and kindness will live on.

Frances is survived by her sons, David Kump and John Kump; daughters-in-law Rebecca Kump and Kristin Kump; her grandchildren Tara (Keef) Kiser, Alicia (John) Azevedo, Jamie (Jeremy) McBee, Anthony (Rachel) Kump, and Matthew Kump; and her great-grandchildren Mallorie, Haley, Luke, Audrey, Michaela, and Hannah.

We will miss her more than words can say and will forever cherish her memory. Frances will always be in our hearts. Aloha and A hui ho!

Visitation and Funeral Services were held over July 1 & 2, with visitation and a Rosary prayed at Spangler Mortuary in Los Altos, followed by Funeral Mass at St. Simons Catholic Church and interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, both also in Los Altos, CA.

For anyone interested here is a link to excerpts from the Memorial Service for Frances:

https://youtu.be/e77WabYVNrg?si=k1JVdebbGABCyHsv

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Fran’s favorite charities:

Catholic Charities of CA, https://catholiccharitiesca.org/donate/

Or support the effort to find a cure for Alzheimers and Dementia

at https://donorservices.alz.org/login?form=FUNXAHXKQNE