Carmela A. Manzi

Carmela A. Manzi, 80, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025, at the Hospital of Saint Raphael/Yale after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on March 23, 1945, in Scafati, Italy, to Pasquale Falanga and Carolina Falanga (née Barba).
While in Italy, Carmela attended Istituto Magistrale "E. Pimentel Fonseca" in Naples to become a teacher. In 1962, she came to the United States to visit family and serendipitously met her future husband, the late Nicholas G. Manzi. They were married on September 28, 1963, in North Haven, Connecticut, and together raised three children. Carmela held many roles throughout her life, but her proudest was being a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She spent most of her career working at ACES, a school for children with disabilities.
Carmela embraced life in the United States and excelled in her English language studies. She lovingly passed down the rich Italian traditions she grew up with, creating a home filled with warmth, culture, and family. She cherished hosting large family gatherings with her siblings and parents, who eventually immigrated from Italy. Sunday dinners became a treasured tradition, where her passion for cooking brought to life the simple, beloved dishes of her heritage.
Her deep Christian faith was a guiding force throughout her life, and she instilled those values in her children. Carmela was beautiful, kind, selfless, funny, overwhelmingly generous, and compassionate. Above all, she was devoted to her family and loved others with her whole heart.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Nicholas (2021), and her loving son, Christopher (2021). She is survived by her son Nicholas (Chrissy), daughter Lisa, daughter-in-law Debbie, and her cherished grandchildren: Erika, Nicholas, LeAnn, and Matthew; and great-grandchildren Eliza and Jeremiah. She also leaves behind her siblings: Maria Gilchrist (John) of North Haven, CT; Rosanna Preziosi (Lou) of Cape Cod, MA; and Vincent Falanga, MD (Mirella) of MA.
We are deeply grateful to the nurses and doctors at Yale's Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital St. Raphael who cared for our loved one with such compassion and dedication. Your tireless efforts and gentle presence brought comfort during the most difficult moments. Though our hearts are heavy with loss, we find solace in knowing she was surrounded by kindness. Thank you for the dignity, empathy, and humanity you showed-not just in your care, but in the way you honored her life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with family in St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish at St. Barnabas Church, 44 Washington Avenue, North Haven, on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at All Saints Cemetery Mausoleum in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1640, Hagerstown, MD 21741.