- Date Of Birth: June 3, 1933
- Date Of Death: June 5, 2019
- State: Michigan
Frieda was born June 3, 1933 in Highland Park, Michigan. Her parents were George Kelel who immigrated from Lebanon and Katy Popeck from Austria. She was the youngest of eight children. She had a wonderful childhood and created many fond memories of that time. She was very athletic and played softball, basketball and later took up bowling and golf. She graduated from Highland Park High School where she made many friends and she would keep in touch with them. Frieda also met her future husband during high school, but did not date until after graduation. Her first job was at Fanny Farmer’s Candy and then onto a job at Western Electric. She always joked that her work there kept her in good shape, especially her figure. Her family was very protective of her. For any man to get close to her was quite a feat for suitors. Frieda and Gordon Hartunian had their first date when they met at a movie theatre but it was the date at a private party that brought them closer. He was able to win her heart and married on 2/27/54. Marty, their first child, was born on Christmas of 1954 and she would joke about people counting the months between the marriage and his birth (by the way, it was 10 months) and also joked that she should have named him Jesus. Gordon Jr. came next on 9/21/57. Their youngest son, John, came along 2/6/63. She raised the three boys and took care of her father-in-law for many years. Frieda made many wonderful memories for the boys because she and their Aunt Carol and cousins would spend a lot oftime at Cass Lake. After burning out the boys at the lake, she would come home, make dinner and dress up and go out with Gordon and friends until the wee hours of the night. Gordon and Frieda founded ABC Warehouse in 1963. She worked there for many years. The employees had a lot of respect for her and loved her wicked sense of humor. Frieda loved music, especially Frank Sinatra and Bob Seger. She loved singing karaoke. She would insist on playing the tapes from karaoke sessions in her car and forced us to listen over and over again. She loved people and got energy from them. At the drop of a hat, she would hold parties with ease. Gordon and Frieda bought a condo in Boca Raton, Florida and owned it for twenty years. This was Frieda’s happy place. She loved sunshine, the pool and the beach. She loved to tan and her olive skin always glowed. When her boys grew up, they found their wives and started families of their own. Marty married Joyce and they had Jason, Lindsey and Steven. Gordon Jr. first married Robin and had Nick. After they divorced, he married Kelly who brought with her a son, Gary. John married Sue and they hadKara and James.Frieda was happy when Lindsey married Joe and they had her only Great Grandchild, Gordon. For the last six months of Her life, little Gordy won Fireda’s heart. Frieda was beautiful, smart, smiled and laughed a lot (her smile was gorgeous), loyal great sense of humor,Loved to p;arty and loved people around her.FAMILY MEMBERSBeloved wife of Gordon. Dear mother of Martin (Joyce), Gordon Jr. (Kelly) and John (Sue). Predeceased by her siblings Charles Kelel (Shirley), Mary Bennet, James Kelel (Carole), Lillian Johnson (Bud), Joseph (Mildred), Naiff (Sharon) and Fred (Christine). Dear grandmother of Nick, Jason, Lindsey VanderMarliere (Joe), Steven, Kara, James and Gary. Dear great-grandmother of Gordon VanderMarliere. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Frieda was a partner of ABC Warehouse and worked there for many years. As the matriarch of the Hartunian clan, she hosted many family get togethers and enjoyed time spent with her long time friends. Causes important to Frieda were the fight against cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
