Frances A Szabo

Loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother Frances A. ( Smieszny) Szabo passed peacefully surrounded by many of her beloved family members August 1, 2024 at her residence in Port Clinton, Ohio.

Frances began her very adventurous life on August 27, 1945, born to Mack and Rita Smieszny. She graduated from McAuley High School in Toledo. From there she worked her way through the University of Toledo at Tiedtke Department Store, upon graduation she earned her bachelor’s degree in education. She was briefly a teacher in the Toledo Public Schools and substitute taught at Immaculate Conception School. From there she was an aide at Edgewood Nursing Home and then worked until retirement at the Ottawa County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Her respect and compassion for her client’s wellbeing showed through all her actions.

Amongst the love she had for her family, she had an eclectic number of hobbies and interests. She was an avid Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians/Guardians fan. If you were near her home and she had the windows open, you may have heard her singing “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose”. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, reading, and sewing. Many recognized her gift for designing and sewing clothing for American Girl Dolls.

The appreciation of the arts was shared by Frances and her family. She was a proud member of the Ohio Star Quilt Guild and currently has a quilt hanging at the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas. Many fond memories were made as House Manager at Playmakers Civic Theatre. She supported and encouraged the support of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra along with enjoying many performances by the traveling Barbershop Quartet.

One of her favorite things to do was to observe and feed the birds, she also volunteered at Magee Marsh. When asking Frances what her plans were for the weekend in the spring, summer, and fall, most would expect the response to be camping. She had her favorite spots in Ohio but also camped outside the state. She volunteered as a Camp Host at Maumee Bay State Park.

Her love of traveling took her all over the United States and a few countries beyond our borders. Her favorite place to go in the winter was Myrtle Beach. Other favorite places included camping at Meadowbrook and Maumee Bay State Park.

Frances is survived by her loving husband Fred whom she married April 27, 1968 at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Toledo, Ohio, sons Luke (Laura) Szabo, Billings, MT, Joseph (Phaedra) Szabo, Port Clinton , OH, Alexander Szabo, Port Clinton, OH, daughter-in-law Margaret Osborne, grandchildren Vincent (Emma) Szabo, Salvatore Martell, Thomas (Cheyenne) Szabo, Anna Szabo, Angelo Martell, Logan Szabo, and brother Gary Smieszny.

She is preceded in death by her parents Mack and Rita Smieszny and son Stephen.

Visitation will be at Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home, 216 Washington Street Port Clinton on Monday, August 5 from 4-7 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be at Immaculate Conception Church 414 Madison Street, Port Clinton on Tuesday, August 6 at 10 a.m. with a bereavement meal following at the Knights of Columbus 109 E Perry Street, Port Clinton.

The family requests that donations be made to Friends of Magee Marsh or Heartland Hospice in Fremont.