SOUTHWICK – Joyce O’Donnell and family announce the peaceful passing of Patricia “Patty” M. Manning, 80, of Southwick MA on Wednesday, July 20th, 2023, at home after a courageous battle with melanoma.
Patty was born on January 4th, 1943, to Francis X. Manning and Helen G. (Moore) Manning in Springfield MA.
Patty had a zest for life and enjoyed growing up in East Longmeadow. She spoke often about the Friday night dances at the Congregational Church as well as her time swimming with friends at Red Stone Quarry. Her fondest memories from her childhood are the times spent with her family visiting the Moore homestead in Stockbridge MA. She graduated in 1960 from Cathedral High School where she started in the Dog House on Elliott Street.
Patty’s early jobs ranged from administrative duties at MassMutual to FW Sickles before she found her true calling as a Hair Stylist. She graduated from Mansfield Beauty School and never looked back. Her love of hair brought her to work for over twenty years at EJ Breck’s Salon in Longmeadow MA, David Whitman’s Salon in Longmeadow MA, followed with working side-by-side with her best friend Mona Hottin at Mon Ami Salon in Longmeadow MA until her retirement.
Patty had a love of all things creative and artistic. From her green thumb in creating wonderful gardens at her property in Southwick, where she was featured on the Grandmothers’ Garden Tour to her years spent as the House Manager at Chester Theater.
Patty and Joyce enjoyed traveling through Europe and exotic locations, absorbing the various cultures while enjoying the local food. If you asked her what her favorite country was, she would without hesitation say Italy. The food, the wine. She loved Italy so much that she took Italian lessons from the Italian Cultural Center in Springfield MA – just so that each time she visited, it would be easier to converse with the locals. Friends and family would be quite entertained by the retelling of the many stories from their trips.
Patty had a yearning to learn. Learn more about food, about wine, about how to create the finest gourmet dishes. This led her to enrolling at The Modern Gourmet Chef School run by Internationally known Chef Madeleine Kamman in Newton MA. She would host dinner parties for friends and family where she would create the most magnificent gourmet dishes. She eventually created a catering company called The Mustard Seed which was a successful business in its own right.
Patty enjoyed listening to all genres of music, traveling to New York City to take in Broadway shows and of course watching her Boston Red Sox. Along with Joyce, she was an integral part of the local women’s softball leagues with everyone knowing her by her nickname “Fluff.”
Patty was predeceased by her parents, Francis and Helen Manning, brother, Robert Manning, brother-in-law, Lawrence O’Keefe and great-nephew, Jacob O’Keefe.
Patty will be greatly missed by her partner of fifty plus years, Joyce O’Donnell of Southwick MA. She leaves to cherish her memories, her sister, Pamela C. (Manning) O’Keefe of East Longmeadow and sister-in-law, Helga Manning of Plymouth MA. She also leaves her nieces Birgit Neher of Plymouth MA, and Kellie F. O’Keefe of East Longmeadow, her nephews Patrick J. O’Keefe also of East Longmeadow and Michael L. O’Keefe and his wife Victoria Bradley of Charleston SC, as well as her great-nephews SPC Sean P. O’Keefe of Ansbach Germany, Jameson P. Billingsley of Chatham MA, Chance B. O’Keefe of Charleston SC and her great-niece, Carolyn B. O’Keefe of Chatham MA.
Along with her immediate family, Patty will be missed by her best friend, Mona Hottin, longtime friend and spiritual advisor Friar Mike Johnson, her extended family; as well as the many friends she has gained throughout the years.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thank you for their kindness and support to Patty during her journey: Primary Dr. F. Murray and Liz; her Oncology Team of Dr. J. McCann, Trish, Janet, Carla; her Surgical Team Dr. R. Arenas and Catherine “Kiki” Tipton as well as Hospice Nurse Carolyn.
Lastly, Patty would like to express her deepest gratitude for the love, support, devotion and care during her courageous battle to Joyce, Mona, Friar Mike and her sister Pam.
Calling Hours will be held on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Southwick Forastiere Funeral & Cremation, 624 College Hwy, Southwick, MA. Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, July 27th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. for visitation with a service at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, 3350 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01107. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.forastiere.com
