Frances Andrews Zeller

Frances Andrews Zeller, 84, passed peacefully from this world at her home in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 27, 2021. A native of Jacksonville, Frances was born on November 11, 1937 to the late Captain Walter F. Andrews and Helen Trost Andrews. She attended St. Paul's Catholic Church & School for many years and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School (Riverside High School). Frances attended Texas Woman’s University and later the University of Florida, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and crowned Gator Bowl Queen in 1957.

Family always came first for Frances. Frances married Emilio Zeller III in 1962 and they had three daughters. In 1975, she became the office manager for Emilio Zeller III Architect, Inc., and worked alongside her husband until they dissolved the firm and retired together in 1998. She was fiercely loyal and loving, and incredibly generous. Frances supported a variety of organizations including The Salvation Army, River Garden Hebrew Home, First Coast No More Homeless Pets, and the Humane Society of Jacksonville; she was also a dedicated patron of the FSCJ Artist Series.

Frances must have been named after St. Francis of Assisi. Like him, all animals held a very special place in her heart. Family members over the years have included dogs, cats, birds, fish, and even a guinea pig. Frances adopted all the stray cats that showed up on her doorstep and fed the wounded squirrels sheltering in her yard.

Frances was not one to sit still. Until recently, she and Emilio have always had a home or landscaping project underway. She and Emilio expanded and redesigned every square inch of the bungalow that they purchased in 1965. She was an avid gardener, priding herself on their well-kept lawn, large oak trees, and many flowering plants. She loved to travel; she and Emilio enjoyed exploring new destinations as much as returning to old favorites like Blowing Rock, Jekyll Island, or New York City.

Frances is survived by her husband of 59 years, Emilio, and their daughters, Melanie, Stephanie (Vin), and Amy (Shannon); her grandchildren Andrew (Carly), Easton, Rohan, Emma, and Lucas; and her great grandchildren Corbin and Collin. She is preceded in death by her parents and her great granddaughter Charlotte Reagan McCann.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the local organizations listed above.