Mary Claire Manganiello, 83, of Dallas and formerly of Exeter, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Allied Services Hospice Center, Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Wilkes-Barre on September 11, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Chonka Hornick.
Mary Claire was a graduate of Exeter High School. She earned a diploma in nursing at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wilkes College and a Master of Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Mary Claire was a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
She had a fruitful nursing career including surgical nursing at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. Her teaching career began with preparing Operating Room Surgical Technicians. She then taught Psychiatric Nursing at Wilkes College Department of Nursing followed by a position as Associate Professor of Nursing at Luzerne County Community College. Mary Claire will be remembered as a skillful teacher as well as compassionate mentor who proudly encouraged growth in her nursing students.
Her activities in retirement included her volunteer role at the Food Pantry in Dallas and she also volunteered at The Meadows in Dallas. She enjoyed bowling and was an avid card and domino player.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Manganiello in 2013, son-in-law, Andrew Calabrese in 2001, her sister, Betty Joan Pellegrino and her nephew Peter Cicacci.
Surviving are her daughter Carolyn Calabrese and her husband John Spitters, Havertown, PA; grandson and the joy of her life, Christopher Calabrese, Albany, NY; her sister, Audrey Kennedy, Kingston; a brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
The family is thankful to the administrators and staff of caregivers and nurses with Home Instead and Allied Services Hospice Center, Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre and to her primary care and medical physicians who provided conscientious and tireless care for Mary Claire.
A walk-through visitation will be held Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 12 noon – 2pm at Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William Street, Pittston with a Blessing Service. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made in Mary Claire’s name to the Back Mountain Food Pantry, 40 Knob Hill, Trucksville, PA 18708.