May 6, 1928 ~ March 8, 2022 (age 93)
Newburgh, NY
Our hearts are forever broken that our dear Elly entered heaven peacefully on March 8, 2022 with Eileen and Fred at her side.
Eleanor Marie Manning was born on May 6, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY to Margaret and Harold Manning. On August 12, 1951 she married her beloved husband Joe (Giuseppi) in Brooklyn at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Joe then went off to Korea and she had her daughter Eileen. Several years after he returned home they moved to Newburgh, NY where Joe got a job as a Newburgh Firefighter and then had their sons Joseph and Frederick.
They raised their three children in their Rolling Hills home where they all made lifelong friends that became family. Elly retired from Verizon after 25 years of dedicated service in 1994 but never slowed down. She became a private childcare provider and a volunteer at St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen into her 90’s until Covid. She traveled the world with her church friends lighting candles in churches at places we could only dream of visiting. She also took many a vacation with Eileen and Mike to splendid spots as she would call it. She was a longtime former member of Osiris Country Club and Club 60 in Newburgh. She loved her yard sales with her buddy Ann Glynn. She crocheted baby sweaters for hundreds of children and was the most kind and generous person. Always making chicken soup and sauce and meatballs for anyone who was sick. She would do anything for someone in need especially the “poor unfortunates” who she was always quite generous with. Known to everyone as Elly she was also Nanny to all the kids friends. It was always “How’s Nanny, love that lady”. Her sparkling blue eyes also left an impression on everyone. How comforting to us that she was cherished by so many.
Elly is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law Eileen and Michael Thomas with whom she made her home for almost 40 years; her son Frederick (aka Fred Zepplin) and Gina Antonucci; her adored granddaughters Lisa Kooperman and Melissa LaGrotta; grandsons Paul Thomas and Frederick (Freddie) LaGrotta; her precious great-grandchildren Ben Kooperman, Ellie Kooperman (her namesake) and Addison Thomas; and several nieces and nephews. Also Jason Kooperman, Lisa LaGrotta and Kristin Thomas and many many friends.
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband Joe (1986) and her beloved son Joseph (2020). Also her in-laws, Frederick and Winifred LaGrotta, and dear brother and sisters Harold (Uncle Junie) Manning, Clarice Mulzoff, Gertrude Marotta, and Eileen Giordano; sister-in-law Henrietta (Bunny) Thompson; and several nieces and nephews along with many lifelong friends.
We would like to thank the entire staff at Sapphire at Meadow Hill who all took excellent loving care of our Elly and also supported her family, and all the friends who sent cards and always checked in to see how she was. Also to Michael Brooks who is always there for our family. Our lives will never be the same but how blessed and lucky we are that we had such a wonderful, loving lady in our lives. She will forever be lighting candles and taking laps around the beads for all of us.
Visitation will be Sunday March 13, 2022 from 2-5 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh NY 12550. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday March 14, 2022 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 55 Grand St., Newburgh, NY, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, New Windsor. A celebration of Elly’s life will be held this summer.
If you wish, please make a donation to her beloved St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, 55 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY 12550.
