Thomas Mannion

1925 - 2017

Thomas Mannion

AGE: 91 • of Seabrook Village, Formerly of Colonia

Thomas Brendan Mannion entered into Eternal Rest before dawn Saturday, February 18, at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, at the age of ninety-one. Immigrant, soldier, attorney, judge, loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Tom was born in his family home in Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland to Frank and Margaret (née King) Mannion, the third of five children. Only Patricia Mannion of Brick survives.

At the age of three, Tom and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Elizabeth where he enjoyed the company of his large family and many friends, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1943. During World War II, at the age of seventeen, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, which sponsored the start of his college education at Syracuse University until he turned eighteen and began basic training. He was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division and saw combat in France and Germany, where he was wounded. His brave and meritorious service to his country earned him the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Upon returning home from war, he met and married Audrey Davies, the love of his life. Tom and Audrey made a home for their six children in several New Jersey towns, but lived most of their parenting years in Colonia. Audrey left this world on August 12, 1999.

After graduating from Rutgers Law School, Tom worked for Allstate Insurance, then joined the law firm of John A. Lynch Sr. in New Brunswick, a firm that would eventually become Lynch, Mannion, Lutz and Lewendowski, bearing Tom's own name. Tom practiced law there for many years until his appointment to the bench as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge in 1986. Sitting in the Middlesex County Courthouse, Judge Mannion served until reaching mandatory retirement at age seventy, then continued to assist the Court for an additional ten years as a recall judge. After finishing his time as a recall judge at age eighty, he served as a volunteer arbitrator in Ocean County.

Judge Mannion enjoyed reading, playing bridge, solving crossword puzzles, and going to the beach at his summer home in Harvey Cedars, but he most enjoyed being with his beloved family: daughter Maureen Frame and her husband Joe of Woodbridge; daughter Arleen Jensen and her husband Jack of Kennebunk, Maine; son Thomas Kevin Mannion and his wife Diane of Fair Haven; daughter Joanne Hanson and her husband Jerry of Cranbury; daughter Suzanne Shur and her husband Allan of Middletown; son James Mannion and his wife Cambi of Brielle; his grandchildren; and his many nieces and nephews.

"Grand," as he was affectionately known, particularly loved his nineteen grandchildren: Jamie Frame and his wife Katie of Colonia, Patrick Frame and his wife Christina of Bernardsville and Barnegat Light, Colleen Caplette and her husband Dave of Edison, and Shaun Frame of Charleston, S.C.; Matthew and Nicholas Jensen of Kennebunk, Maine, and Amelie Jensen of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Lindsay Mannion of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Thomas Fredrick and Julia Mannion of Fair Haven; Kyle Hanson and his wife Nicole of Downers Grove, Ill., Brendan Hanson of Cranbury, and Brianna Hanson of Atlanta, Ga.; Rachel Shur of New Haven, Conn. and Christopher Shur of Middletown; and Colin, Audrey, Kelly, and Jane Mannion of Brielle.

Grand was privileged to get to know his nine great-grandchildren: Brigid, Joseph, Timothy, and Noelle Frame of Woodbridge; Madelyn, Sophia, and Ryan Frame of Bernardsville; and Cassidy and Trevor Hanson of Downers Grove, Ill.

Thomas B. Mannion lived a very long, full, eventful life, with some sorrow and much joy, but always adhering to his own sense of integrity. He was truly a member of the Greatest Generation. His family and friends will cherish his memory. May he Rest in Peace.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 22nd at 8:45 a.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home, 44 Green Street, Woodbridge, NJ. A 9:30 a.m. funeral liturgy will take place at St. John Vianney Church, 420 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Newark, NJ.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 21st from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home.