Thomas Francis Mantrell

1923 - 2017

Thomas Francis Mantrell

AGE: 93 •

Thomas Francis Mantell, 93, died peacefully after a brief illness surrounded by family on Friday, July 14, 2017, at RWJ University Hospital Somerset, in Somerville, NJ.

Mr. Mantell was born in Jersey City on September 9, 1923, in his grandmother's home to his parents William & Isabelle Mantell. He was raised in Plainfield and graduated from Plainfield High School in 1941. Between 1944 & 1945, he served as a Second Lieutenant during WWII in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was stationed in England as a bombardier aboard the B24.

On May 5, 1946, he married Dorothy June Kelly of Dunellen, NJ, and together they had 9 children. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1955 with an accounting degree. He became a Certified Public Accountant and started his own accounting firm in Plainfield. Between 1966 and 1969, he served as Third Ward Councilman in Plainfield.

Tom lived in Plainfield until 1969, then moved to Watchung until 2001, finally, retiring in Monroe Township. Tom was an avid golfer, sailor, Yankee fan, a devout Roman Catholic, and a proud member of the Italian-American Club of Rossmoor, Kiwanis (Plainfield), Lions (Watchung) and Optimist Club (Watchung).

He is survived by his 7 children Gerald William Mantell (Dr. Jolie Cizewski), Barry Mantell (Rebecca Mantell), Mary Lou Armenio (Felice Armenio), Jeffrey Mantell (Kathryn Mantell), Paul Mantell (Patti Mantell), Nancy Murin (Arnold Murin), and Rev. Peter Mantell (Anna Mantell); 20 grandchildren Jared Mantell (Lindsay Mantell), Grant Mantell (fiancé Carrie Fisk), Megan Burrell (Mark Burrell), Maribeth Gravunder (Andy Gravunder), Joey Armenio, Alexa Mantell, Ryan Mantell, Jason Mantell, Jessica Mantell, Jillian Mantell, Christopher Mantell, Dr. Matthew Mantell (Cristina Mantell), Jonathan Mantell, Gregory Mantell, Thomas Murin (fiancé Carly Isabella), Kathleen Murin, Claudia Murin, Andrea Henderson (Ken Henderson), Nicole Hopkins (Charles Hopkins), Jacqueline Mantell; 3 great-grandchildren Kendall, Ledlie, and Silas Mantell; his sister Gladys Hillyerd (Ed Hillyerd); and several nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife Dorothy Kelly Mantell (2005), his parents William Mantell (1992) and Isabelle Mantell (1989), his infant sons James Mantell (1948) and Donald Mantell (1955), his brother Billy Mantell (1948), and his grandson Kyle Mantell (1983).

Funeral arrangements are being made by Sheenan Funeral Home, 233 Dunellen Avenue, Dunellen, NJ. Visitation is Monday, July 17, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, located at 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876. Burial will follow at Resurrection Burial Park, Piscataway, NJ.