Eleanor A. Morono Manfredi

Eleanor A. Manfredi passed away peacefully on February 8, 2024, at the age of 97, surrounded by family. Eleanor was born in East Rochester, NY on June 10, 1926.  She was the daughter of Anthony and Amata Morono. Eleanor had many fond memories of living in East Rochester including working for Kodak and meeting her husband, William (Bill) F. Manfredi. They married on September 30, 1950. They were married until Bill’s passing in May of 2007. Eleanor was the owner/caterer of Wisteria Manor in Aiken, SC from 1980 until her retirement in 2006 at the age of 80. She loved playing bridge, cooking for her family and friends, and drinking red wine. She attributed her long life to doing everything in moderation.

Surviving family members are 4 of her children:  Ellen (Patrick) Mongan, Alan Manfredi, Craig Manfredi, and Julie (Keith) Ward. She has 12 Grandchildren, 17 Great Grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, five siblings, and her daughter, Lynn (Bob) Manfredi-Pettit.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 12:00 PM at The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church (720 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901) with Fr. Jacob Almeter as the celebrant. The family will receive friends following the Mass in St. Francis Hall for a celebration of life.

Instead of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made at America's Warrior Partnership (givelively.org)

MY UNSTOPPABLE MOM HAS FINALLY STOPPED!

Ellen Mongan

Do you remember playing dress up as a little girl, trying on your mommy’s high heels and asking, “Will these pretty shoes ever fit me, mama?” Without hesitation, your mom replied, “One day those high heels will fit just fine.”

Moms have a way of instilling high hopes into their daughters’ hearts. They pass down to their daughters more than just a pair of pretty high heels. They pass on their beliefs, fashion tips, recipes, character traits, wisdom, and, most importantly, their love. Part of being a mom is teaching your child to fly and then letting them go and watching them soar like an eagle. Another part is becoming their best friend, while still being a mom. My mom did just that. 

“Unstoppable” is my mom’s middle name. She has lived her life fully alive; nothing seemed to stop her. At the age of 91, she was still driving all around Aiken by herself and playing bridge almost every day. She had overcome multiple medical problems including bladder cancer since 2013, carotid artery blockage, high blood pressure, and two broken shoulders. When a physician error caused her to have major surgery on her bladder in 2013, facing weeks in the hospital, she was forgiving. When her weekend getaway with the girlfriends ended in a freak accident resulting in shattering her shoulder, she persevered and reluctantly agreed not to walk on stairs in her high heels again, or at least around her friends. She embraced PT and miraculously regained the use of her arms even though she had never done a workout in her life. After all, those arms were needed to hold her bridge cards.

My mom was no stranger to suffering. She willingly moved almost every year for my dad’s career, single-handedly packing up the home, the children, and her life, then moving on with excitement for new beginnings. She courageously accepted a pregnancy at age 44, just when she was seeing the light at the end of the “carpool lane.” When retirement took her out of her comfort zone from the Midwest to the Deep South, she re-invented herself, becoming an entrepreneur. She went from changing diapers and washing dishes to changing lives. She became a statement of how you can do and be whatever you want to become if you put your mind to it. With a mother’s heart, she chose a second career where she would still be available to her youngest child. As my dad slowed down with frequent health problems, Mom found a new skip in her step. She bought Wisteria Manor in Aiken and became both a caterer and a legend.

Mom was an old-fashioned gal with a modern voice. She was not afraid to speak her mind. She was a voice of wisdom to those who would listen, my daily laugh on our morning phone calls, and an example to follow for those who suffer. I applaud Mom as an unstoppable woman of valor who looked obstacles straight in the eye and never ran away. Those who know her want her to be their mom, too. Some wanted her to write a book on how to grow old gracefully, while others just admired her spunk.

Perhaps it’s because she was witty and wise, or because she was quite the style setter, high heels and all, or because she was willing to sacrifice at her own expense, even if it was with a tear in her eye. With a strong drive and a big heart, she has touched lives she will never be aware of. My mom, Eleanor A. Manfredi, deserved the title of the “Unstoppable Mom” at 91 years old when I first wrote this article for the Aiken Standard, but sadly, at 97 years old, she has finally been stopped!