Lawrance M. Manuel

Lawrance, the youngest of five boys, was born on Aug. 22, 1933, at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, to Martin Manuel and Ella Brunett Manuel. In 1929 the family had moved from Ville Platte, La., to south Texas.

Lawrance graduated from Hamshire-New Holland High School in 1952.Upon his return from serving in the Army, he attended Lamar State College of Technology and received a degree in geology.Thereafter he was employed by Beroid, a petroleum company, and was sent to work in Tripoli, Libya. While home for a short visit he met his future bride, Giuliana Nadalini, and corresponded with her after returning to his job overseas. In October 1968, Lawrance and Giuliana were married in St. Anthony Cathedral, Beaumont, Texas.

For the next 10 years, still working in the petroleum business, Lawrance and his wife lived in Tripoli; in Darwin, Australia, where their two children were born; and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.In 1978, the family returned to the States from overseas and made their residence in Moss Bluff. In his later years, Lawrance worked for the U.S. Postal Service.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his four brothers, Blakley Manuel, Joseph B. Manuel, Joseph A. “Tony” Manuel and Martin Manuel Jr.

Survivors include his wife of 43 years; daughter, Annale, and husband Andy Perzo of Lake Charles; son, Jean Paul Manuel of Lake Charles; grandchildren, Nina Zoe Perzo, Milo Joseph Perzo and Sarah Bengston; sisters-in-law, Jo Frances Giardina Manuel of Texas and Onelia Nadalini Favilla and Imelde Nadalini Zari of Lucca, Italy; and brothers-in-law, Silvano Nadalini and Giancarlo Nadalini of Lucca. He had 12 nephews, seven nieces, and numerous grand-nieces and -nephews.

A devout Christian, he belonged to St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff.

Lawrance was a wonderful husband and father and a good and generous man. He was a very sociable person, an avid reader, always ready to share information, and he could fix almost anything. He will be greatly missed.

His funeral will be at 1 P.M. on Monday, January 16th, at St. Theodores Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. Msgr. Dubois will be the officiating. Visitation will be Monday morning at the church, beginning at 10 A.M.; a rosary will be held at 10:30 A.M. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.