She began a career in business at age 12, opening a restaurant before entering into the tourism, transportation, food, medical and education sectors.

Foning became president of CPDM's women's division in 1992 and was appointed the party's leader in Douala and the national committee five years later.

[7] She focused on helping the young, building power lines, health centres, roads, schools, eliminating illness and organising funeral services.

which fractured both her legs on the Douala-Bafoussam road in Nomayos I in Cameroon's Centre region, and caused her to be flown to France for medical attention on the orders of Paul Biya.

[10] Foning praised the Cameroonian presidential couple at official ceremonies and her fellow citizens called her "national leader" as a result.

[3] On 18 January 2015, Foning attended a meeting of the 4th assembly of the United Cities and Councils of Cameroon in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé.

[5][10] Foning died from a sudden spike of blood pressure and hypertension on the morning of 23 January,[2][10] with the news made public by hospital officials about midday.

[15] The brief ecumenical service was held in the palace of Johny Baleng in Menoua with members of her family and government officials in attendance on 21 March.

[16] Foning was replaced as president of Association of Cameroonian Businesswomen by Agnès Ntube Ndode,[17] and the contest to take her place as mayor of Douala 5 ended with Carlos Ngoualem winning the election on 5 August.

[18] At the request of her family,[19] a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) street in the Douala 5 district linking the Akwa-Nord Pharmacy to the Makepe Roundabout bearing the name Rue Françoise Foning was renamed from No 5.508 to honour her in late 2016.