
Celebrate Greg Manno's Life: Help with Funeral
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My name is Jonathan and my Father, Greg Manno, passed away on my birthday, February 1st. He had been battling kidney disease since 2022, which had caused him to retire early from the Public Works Department of Ventnor after 16 years. My Father went into the hospital three months ago due to a cardiac event that caused severe brain trauma. Despite how awful things seemed at first, he went from being totally unconscious and on a ventilator three separate times to being awake, alert, and clear of mind; just unable to move much or speak. He was communicating by nodding and shaking his head yes and no, but that night on my birthday I was even able to hear inklings of his voice. I told My Dad how it was a wonderful birthday present to hear his voice after so many months and that we should work on practicing speech the next day. He nodded yes and I headed home, knowing that he was on track to get into a rehab soon. Mere hours later I was rushing back to the hospital as they tried to bring My Dad back from another cardiac event. I was there as he passed at 10:35 that night and family came soon after. So, despite how sick My Dad was, this was still a very sudden and shocking turn after he had fought so hard and come so far.
It’s because of this that I am reaching out to friends, family, and the community for help. I personally was out of work for three months due to My Dad’s illness, during which time I only received partial pay. I am still catching up on bills and the rest of my family only has so much to contribute, and so I’ve started this fundraiser to help with the cost of the funeral. With that in mind, I have tried very hard to to strike a balance between a service that is both budget conscious but also thoughtful and worthy of My Father’s memory.
Many of you knew him as someone who always worked his hardest in everything he did, and he was always willing to help anyone out whenever and however he could. From DJing charity and benefit events for free, to always giving a fair deal when working on someone’s home, My Dad always wanted to do right by others. He was a life-long resident of the area and has touched the lives of many over that time. I know that the memory of My Dad will live on in those who knew him. That could be as a friend, a coworker, or even just a short encounter with him, but regardless of how you knew him, you know that he had a habit of making people smile. For our family, he was not only my father, but also a brother, an uncle, and a son. In all of these ways he will be deeply missed, and I promise that I will carry on his love for music, passion for working hard, and helping those around me every chance I get. I’d love for this to be a celebration of his life more than just a grieving of his death. Thank you all so, so much for taking the time to read this. I realize now, more than ever, how much each moment we have matters, and so I truly appreciate it.
My Father's obituary is linked below.
Organizer
Jonathan Manno
Organizer
Ventnor City, NJ