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Here’s a great picture of holidays gone by…The Songbird and the Mayor! Bernice Fraction and (then) Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar throw the switch to light the "World's Largest Christmas Tree" at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Nov. 24, 1973. 🎄
From her obituary in 1985: “Mrs. Fraction was a soprano who sang in opera and symphony halls nationwide. She sang with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Opera and Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.
Her daughter, Georgia Fraction, remembered her mother's voice as "magnificent."
"She hit notes that sent chills down your spine. She was singing up till two days ago.”
Born in Sommerville, Tenn., Mrs. Fraction attended New York's acclaimed Juilliard School and studied with the late Jennie Tourel.
She also appeared with the Washington Opera Company and the National Symphony. When she lived in St. Louis, Fraction appeared with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Mrs. Fraction, who had lived in Indianapolis since 1965, also taught voice at Marian College.
Her smile was known to light up the room.
See: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1985-03-1…
See also: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45940525/bernice-hunt-fraction
