Frances Mangogna

Frances Adolino Mangogna, age 96, died Thursday, November 5, 2015, at Morton Plant Hospital, after a brief illness and surgery. A native of New York, NY, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Viccunie Adolino, Italian immigrants from the Bay of Naples area. She was preceded in death by her husband, Captain Peter M. Mangogna, USMC Retired; her daughter, Cynthia Mangogna Kelmachter; seven brothers and sisters, Frank Adolino, Rose Hinkle, Ralph Adolino, Samuel Adolino, Phillip Adolino, Louise Riggiero, and Anna Morabito; and her mother and father in-law, Josephine and Anthony Mangogna, who were Sicilian immigrants. Frances was born and raised in New York, NY, she married Peter (Pete) Mangogna of New York, NY in 1941, while he was serving in the US Marine Corps. She moved around the country with Pete and Cynthia during their 20-plus years of service to our country, although all she had ever known was NY, and she truly missed her family there. The Mangogna family retired from the military to Clearwater in 1957 and built a new home there; she resided in this home until only a few months ago, when she moved to assisted living at Brookdale Pinecrest in Largo. A wonderful cook, she and Pete often invited family members and friends from all parts of the country to visit them; they loved their family, as well as grandly feeding and fully entertaining them year after year. They also made many good friends in the community while living there and were involved in many activities with them throughout these years, noteworthy was the Clearwater Chapter of the Marine Corps League, which hosted their 50th wedding anniversary gala in 1991. Frances and Pete also enjoyed visiting other retired Marines, from South Carolina to Puerto Rico, and many other places. After her husband Peter passed away in 1998, she continued making new friends, while staying in touch with the others, and truly enjoyed her life, although she certainly missed her husband and daughter very much. She was especially proud of Pete’s service to the United States during World War II, where he was a gallant Marine warrior in the crucial battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific. Frances was a loving wife and mother, who was always willing to make personal sacrifices for others. She was always happy and had a positive attitude, regardless of the circumstances. Frances made friends easily, as she never met a stranger. She is loved and will be missed by everyone who knew her. She is survived by her sister Susan Adolino Lindner, age 98, of New York, NY; niece Rita Accardi of NY, NY; son in law Barry Kelmachter of St Petersburg, FL; nephews and nieces Richard Mangogna (Frances) of FL, Albert DeSio of NM, Thomas Schuman (Florence) of NY, Donald Mangogna (Dorothy) of NY, Douglas Hardin(Carol) of FL, Linda Signer (Al) of KS, Robert Schuman (Linda) of NY, Craig Budzinski (Nancy) of NC, and Kenneth Hardin of FL. She was also very proud of the vast number of great and great-great nephews and nieces who survive her. The family extends a very special debt of gratitude to her good friends Helen Thomas, Janice Blaine, Georgeanne Mitchell, and Barbara Fagley, who were always there for her caring and support during her final years and days, when she really needed them. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10 2015 at the Sylvan Abby Funeral Home, 2853 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, with the Reverend Gary Thomas officiating. Burial will follow, as she will rest in peace there alongside her husband and daughter. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that you make your donation to American Cancer Society 4801 86th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL 33782, or a charity of your choice.