Manuel "Manning" Vasquez

Manuel "Manning" Vasquez, 74, of St. Augustine, passed away on Sept. 29, 2013, at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, surrounded by his family. Born and raised in the Philippines, Manuel graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Molave, and later graduated from Conception College in Ozamiz City, with an associate degree in liberal arts.

In his youth, Manuel served as an altar boy in the Catholic Church where his family attended. For many years he worked as a supervisor for Singer Sewing Machine Company in the Philippines. In 1984, Manuel immigrated from the Philippines to Jacksonville, Fla., and had been a resident of St. Augustine since 2003. He worked for the Mac Papers Corporation from the late 1980s until his retirement in 2012.

An avid gardener, he had spent years developing a 20-acre farm behind his home, which he named St. Francis Farm. He specialized in growing Asian fruits and vegetables.

Manuel was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, the North Florida Filipino Association, and the Karilagan Dance Group. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and he will be deeply missed by his entire family.

Manuel is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marietta Vasquez of St. Augustine; sons, Mat Vasquez, M.D., and his wife Victoria, of St. Augustine and Manuelito Vasquez and his wife Marilyn, of Jacksonville; a sister, Tarciana of the Philippines; grandchildren, Isabel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mel and Miles; and many other relatives and friends from Chicago, New Jersey, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Ireland.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, with Father Guy Noonan, officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Good Counsel Cemetery. A visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. will precede the service.

St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.