MICHEL LORRAINE OESTERREICHER

1939 - 2023

MICHEL LORRAINE OESTERREICHER
May 12, 1939 - August 8, 2023
Michel, who was a life-long beach resident, teacher, and author, passed away in the presence of her family, on August 8th, 2023.
She grew up in South Jacksonville Beach on the site of her family's former dairy. Her childhood was spent playing in the pine woods and palmetto scrubs with her sisters and brother and also working in her parents' grocery store, one of the first at the beach. In her early years she attended St. Paul Catholic School, Fletcher High School, and Holy Name Academy in San Antonio, Florida. Her expansive local family heritage gave her an early appreciation for the history and culture of North Florida.
Michel returned to college later in her life earning a degree in English Literature graduating with honors from the University of North Florida. Subsequently, she joined the public school system, teaching at Fletcher High School where she taught 12th Grade English Literature. She was consistently recognized by her former students for her teaching excellence, and her ability to instill a passion and interest for the subject.
While studying at UNF, she initiated a research project for a history course that documented her parents' recollection of their lives, and their parents' lives living on the North Florida frontier in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After she graduated UNF, she wrote a book to fully capture and document these stories and in 1996, her book, Pioneer Family: Life on Florida's Twentieth-Century Frontier was published.
Following the publication, the book was required reading in many local high school and college history classes. Michel was regularly invited to read excerpts of the book to local groups, historical societies, and informal gatherings throughout north Florida. In doing so, she actively supported the Beaches Historical Society, playing a critical role in building an awareness of local history that continues growing to this day.
She also channeled her passion for instruction into Bible classes where she taught several small groups, taking complex and abstract subject matter and transforming it into applicable, life changing principles.
She is survived by her brother, her four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to the Beaches Historical Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.