Stella Maniscalco
4/6/2018
Stella Dolores Maniscalco (née Russo) entered into eternal life on the morning of Friday, April 6, 2018, in her sleep at the Schervier Pavilion in Warwick, New York. She was 98 years old.
Stella is survived by her daughter Rose Baczewski-Maniscalco (husband Mark Baczewski) and son Dr. Edward “Fred” Maniscalco; sister Annemarie Romagnoli (husband Ronald “Big Ron”) and brother Lt. Gen. Vincent M. Russo (Ret., US Army); nieces and nephews Karen (husband John), Lori (husband Michael), Steve (wife Deirtra), Jay (wife Sue), Brian (wife Lisa), Mark (wife Laura), and Nick (wife Jessica).
In death, she was preceded by her beloved husband Otto, son Edward Charles, mother Rose and father Rosario, sister Mother Mary Russo OSU, aunt Virginia “Ziz” Pucci, and sister-in law Reeta Russo (née Smith); aunts Josie, Frances, Marnie, Tess, and Vera; uncles Mike, Joe, Philip, and Sam; the DeRosa and Pucci families, especially Antoinette and Victor (“Where’s My Hat?”), Jackie, and Santillo; beloved family priests: Frs. Fiore, Graziani, and Torti; religious Sisters Isabel and Modestina SC, and Mother Margaret Mary OSU; dear friends Comare Maria Bartolomeo, and the Mercaldi and D’Amelio families; and countless close relatives and friends from her childhood in the Upper East Side neighborhood of East Harlem, as well as Rockland County (New York), and throughout the United States.
Stella was born on Wednesday, October 1, 1919 at 164 E. 114th Street in East Harlem. She loved school: known in today’s parlance as a “livelong learner.” She was Valedictorian at her graduation from P.S. 57 and an honor student, majoring in Latin and accounting, at both Hunter College High School and Hunter College in Manhattan. At Hunter College, she sang in the College Choir and performed with it at the 1939 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, Queens. Most of her social activities revolved around Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
She met her husband, Otto, while working at Gibbs and Cox: Marine Architects and Engineers. Otto was a draftsman and Stella an accountant. They married on Armistice Day (now Veterans Day), November 11, 1944 and the following year she joined Otto at Laurinburg Maxton Army Air Base in North Carolina. After Otto’s honorable discharge (January 19, 1946), they moved first to Brooklyn and then to Hicksville, Long Island. In the 1950’s, Otto joined I.B.M. in Kingston, New York: the beginning of a three-decade journey from New York to Iowa, Kentucky, Florida, Peru, and many points in between.
Otto passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 1971 at Miami International Airport, after which Stella, Rose, and Fred returned to Bardonia, New York. Upon her return, she reestablished her former positon in the business office of Clarkstown Senior High School in New City, New York. Over the years, she worked for several companies in Rockland County, most notably the LeCroy Corporation in Chestnut Ridge, New York, serving directly under its founder and owner, Walter LeCroy.
In retirement, Stella enjoyed the quiet, reflective life. Among other things, she was a voracious reader of mystery novels, especially those of Dick Francis; never turned down a crossword puzzle; enjoyed day trips with Rose, Mark, and Fred; while she was still physically able, enjoyed trips to Yonkers and Monticello Raceways; talked on the phone regularly with her sister and confidant Annemarie; enjoyed trips to the hairdresser (Salon Nikki in Norwood, NJ) and the subsequent lunch at the State Line Diner (Tappan, NY) with Rose and Mark; occasional bus trips to Atlantic City; lunch at the Waterwheel or Marcello’s; and watching her beloved Miami Heat, with a particular fondness for Pat Riley.
Now, as she begins her eternal life with God, she can enjoy a long-awaited reunion with past family and friends, where her father, Rosario, is undoubtedly reminding her, “I don’t want anybody crying,” a special message for those of us who will miss her until we reunite with her and God.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Bon Secours Warwick Health Foundation with funds going to Senior Services at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick, New York. Donate online at https://www.bschsf.org/warwick/giveonline or by mail or phone at the following address:
Bon Secours Warwick Health Foundation
255 Lafayette Avenue
Suffern, New York 10901
Phone: (845) 368-5151
Fax: (845) 368-5596
On Monday, April 23, 2018 family will receive friends at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 1911 Union Valley Road, Hewitt, New Jersey 07421 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private.
Calendar of Care
At the time of funeral service we commemorate and reflect on the life
of Stella Maniscalco. In the days, weeks and months ahead it will be a
comfort to family of Stella Maniscalco to continue to remember a life well lived.
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