Frances A. Martel

Frances Anne Martel was born October 12, 1943 in Rhine, Georgia, to Francis and Sarah Lorello. As a youngster she enjoyed being the first grandchild and was given much love and attention. Frances grew up in Alma, Georgia with her mother and stepfather Dan Harrell. Soon she had a new two new playmates, Daniel Harrell and Michael Harrell (who preceded her in death), both of Alma Georgia. Frances married young and made her new home in Sarasota, FL. In 1962 Frances had her first daughter, Michelle Martel (Kushnier) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and the following year another daughter, Mira Martel (Valliere) of Redondo Beach, California. In the 1960s Frances picked up her two girls and made her way to New York City. Soon she met and married the love of her life, Milton Schwartz. In 1970 they welcomed a son, A. Jonathan Schwartz of Las Vegas, Nevada. Eventually Frances settled in Southern California and created a wonderful life for her family. Never one to take the easy road, Frances became a general contractor (a typically male dominated profession) Frances owned and operated her own company for over 40 years building restaurants in the United States and Canada. Frances enjoyed traveling and visited many countries throughout Europe and Asia, often with her children and grandchildren in tow. Later in life, she found a wonderful traveling companion in her youngest brother, Randy Lorello of Spokane, Washington. Frances loved her family, flowers, celebrations, her career, and art. She passed December 6, 2023, and will be greatly missed by those lucky enough to be in her orbit.