Frances Hottel

Frances Hottel was a strong and loving woman, who impacted all she knew for the better with her sweet laugh and heartfelt care for others. Her devotion to and love of her family, sweet and jovial nature, pride for being an American, and faith in God was evident in all she did.

Frances was born on August 19, 1922 in Skocjan, Yugoslavia to Frank & Josephine Cinkole and was the oldest sibling to Frank, Joseph and Josephine (Pepca). As the oldest child, Frances worked hard to help care for her family in the midst of a budding war (WWII), and upon her mother’s request, left home at an early age; first to Ljubljana, Yugoslavia and then on to Rome, Italy to attend sewing school. (It was there where she developed her life-long trade as a seamstress.) As the war escalated and upon her mother’s insistence, she fled Europe and made the long, courageous journey, alone, to America.

Despite early hardship, God blessed Frances with a rich, full life. She enjoyed 59 years of marriage to Lloyd A. Hottel and was a cherished mother to their son, Philip. Frances was a masterful seamstress, enjoyed many years of membership and involvement in the United Methodist Church, including her participation in the choir, event planning and banner creation. She loved to travel with her family and enjoyed recounting stories of their cross-country roadtrips and overseas adventures. She loved to bake treasured family recipes, like her delicious potica, and generously gifted them to family and friends for years on end. Later in life, she developed a love for golf, both as a sport and a proud fan. She was also a fierce bingo contestant, who won her share of quarters and candy. And through it all, Frances always made time to be with and serve her family.

Frances was preceded in death by both of her parents and brothers, as well as her devoted husband, Lloyd A. Hottel.

Frances is survived by her son, Philip Hottel, and his wife Helen (Roswell, GA); her sister Pepca Novak and her daughter and family Tatiana and Derek Fess, Garrett and Gabriel (North Olmstead, OH); her 5 grandchildren, Mandie Hajdaraj and her husband Oltion (Marietta, GA), John Faulkner and his wife Amy (Marietta, GA), Courtney Hodgson and her husband Brad (Raleigh, NC), Rebecca Faulkner (Marietta, GA), and David Hottel and his wife Katie (Greenville, SC); 11 great-grandchildren, Hanna Dennany, Jordan Dennany and his wife Jennifer, Emma Hill, Jacob Hill, Caedmon Hodgson, Casey Hill, Lydia Hodgson, Hadley Hodgson, Reagan Faulkner, Sadie Faulkner, and Lewis Hottel; and 3 great-great-grandchildren, Danny West, Samuel Dennany, and Laila Dennany.

The family will have a private graveside service and burial, and will have a celebration of life service at a later date.

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