Maria was born in Mallorca, Spain and lived through the Spanish civil war during her childhood. She came to the US in the early 1950s with the family of Joseph G. Butler III. Maria and the Butlers formed a close familial bond that remains to this day and has spanned 5 generations. She was married to Juan Colon for more than 60 years.

Maria dedicated great part of her life to taking care of children whom she loved with her whole heart and she was loved back as a mother, grand mother and as a friend. She was madrina (God mother) to over 70 children.

She loved to travel and travel she did visiting many countries , she wrote poetry, did oil paintings, enjoyed the opera, classical music and the theater. She was active in Saint Rose of Lima Catholic church in Youngstown, Ohio and the Legion of Mary for many years. She was a member of the Sons of Borinquen and Married Couples club and other cultural and social organizations.

Maria loved to entertain and she was a wonderful cook and mastered international cuisine that included dishes from Spain, Asia, East India, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Maria was preceded in death by her mother, Isabel Tomas; father, Jose Martorell and husband, Juan Colon. She is survived by her son, Luis Jovel; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Jovel and granddaughter, Bea Jovel and many other relatives.

If unable to attend Maria's funeral mass, please visit stjeromeonline.org or live streaming of mass from. Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N., Seminole, FL 33776\727-391-0121