Petrena Mandel

Petrena Lowthian Mandel, a resident of Ozark, passed peacefully with her family at her side, early Monday morning, September 30, 2019 in an Ozark nursing home. She was 91.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 15, 2019 in the parlor of Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home.

Petrena Lowthian Mandel, born on February 10, 1928 in London, England, was the daughter of Leslie Irton Lowthian and Petrena Lowthian. She graduated High School in Scotland, received a degree in ballet and was a member of the Royal Academy of Dance.  She attended the Lucy Clayton fashion and Modeling School and was a 1952 graduate of the Royal Academy Dramatic Art, both in London.  At age 23 she came to the United States with her sister to pursue an acting and modeling career. After moving to Minneapolis, she became president of the Patricia Stevens Modeling School.  Wanting to have her own company, she purchased the school and became the Founder and President of Lowthian College of Fashion Merchandising and Interior Design in Minneapolis which she ran from 1964 until 1997.

Petrena was a member of the advisory council of the Minnesota State Department of Education in St. Paul from 1974 until 1982. She was a member of the Advisory Board of the Minneapolis Development Agency from 1983 until 1985. Petrena served on the Downtown Council of Minneapolis and was formerly the chairman of the retail board. She served on the board of Business Industrial Advisors University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie. Petrena was a member of Fashion Group International, Inc. and was one of the first women elected to join Rotary International in Minneapolis. She was an active member of Rotary (Career and Economic Education from 1988 until 2000).

Petrena was an avid outdoors woman who loved fishing expeditions in Canada, golfing, gardening, swimming and her daily three-mile walk. She also had a passion for cooking and reading.

Mrs. Mandel was preceded in death by her husband, Nisson Mandel who passed away in 2002; grandson, Steven Sandoval and her sister, Janice Lowthian.

Surviving relatives include her two sons, David (Julie) and Geoffrey (Roberto); four grandchildren, Vincent Sandoval (Leah), Sarah Barragan (Aaron), Lupita and Lulu; seven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Gloria, Skye, Steven, Joyce, Vincent, and Lucy Sandoval. Her favorite slogan through life was: “Bash on Regardless”