Name: Joseph P. Mannara Life Dates: 4/9/1930 - 12/2/2008 City Of Birth: Rochester, NY Pre-deceased by Predeceased by parents Joseph and Louise (DiSalvo) Mannara,brothers Anthony and Peter, sisters Carmella Spinello, Jennie Shortino, Angie LoVerme, parents-in-law Victor and Jennie Natalie and brother-in-law Victor E. Natalie. Survived by Survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley A (Natalie); son Kevin J, daughter Karin L Christanis, grandsons Micheal Mercendetti and Joshua Christanis; brothers Donald Mannara Angelo (Lorraine) Mannara, sisters Clara Romeo, Mary Donato and Louise (Robert) Azzano; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. History The heart of Joe`s life was his family. Joe was the baby brother in a family of 11 children. He graduated from St. Michael`s School in 1944 and from Edison Tech High School in 1948. Before leaving for service in the US Navy he proposed to his sweetheart Shirley Natalie, and they were married April 7, 1951. They raised 2 children, Kevin and Karin, and were blessed with 2 grandsons, Micheal and Joshua who brought him great joy! He worked for Rochester Telephone Company from 1955-1991. Joe was a dedicated Catholic, with a devotion to St. Anne. He was very active at Most Precious Blood Church for over 50 years. In addition to attending weekly mass he served as head usher of the 12:15 mass, worked BINGO, festivals and had been a president of the Men`s Club and Parents Club. He was at every school event his children participated in. View Joseph's video tribute: http://memorial.yourtribute.com/JosephPMannara/ Donations Memorials may be directed to The Mannara Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2008, Niagara University, NY 14109-2008. Services BARTOLOMEO PEROTTO Funeral Home, Inc. 1411 Vintage Lane (between 390 Long Pond Rd.) where Joe's Visitation will be on from Friday 2-4, 7-9 PM. Joe's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 on Saturday at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial will follow in his family plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Additional Information Joe had traveled extensively. The Navy had sent him on tours to various parts of the world, including the Mediterranean where he was able to visit relatives in Sicily. He and Shirley took their family on many trips to Canada, the Adirondacks and visiting friends and relatives in Florida, Connecticut and South Carolina. In retirement they took several cruises, another trip to Hawaii, road trips up and down the East Coast, many trips to Las Vegas and several to California while their son lived there. In 2001 he and Shirley celebrated their 50th anniversary by taking their family on a trip through the Caribbean. He was also a handy man and amateur builder, constructing part of the family home on Rockview Terrace. He loved that house, and the Rockview neighbors became a family to each other. He and Shirley moved to Greece in 2001, and Joe continued his projects around his new home. His later years were marked by a number of health issues, including Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy, a rare neurological disease. After caring for him at home, Joe`s family turned to Hamilton Manor Nursing Home during the final months of Joe`s life, where he was cared for with compassion and dignity. Through these last years of illness he maintained his upbeat disposition as he fought death. He recently commented he didn`t want to go. "I`ve got too much to leave, I love my life" he said.