Michele Cangiano Ment

Michele Cangiano Ment, 78, of Holmes, New York, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2023, surrounded by family. She was born on November 30, 1944 to Providenza and Pasquale Cangiano in Brooklyn, New York and lived a life worth living.
Michele went on to SUNY New Paltz, where she made life-long friends. After graduation, she began teaching mathematics back in Brooklyn. She earned her Master's in Education from Brooklyn College and her Professional Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Richmond College.
In 1977, she married Eric Ment and moved "upstate" with "the farmer" to Kent, New York, where she and Eric lived for over 40 years and raised two children, Rebecca and Jason. She commuted to the Bronx for over 20 years where she became a Supervisor of Special Education and eventually an Assistant Principal. She would be out in the morning when it was still dark, but home in time each night to see her children on the sports fields, chair a meeting of one of many civic organizations, or just watch Jeopardy with the family. After retiring from the New York City School System in 1999, she began commuting to Manhattan instead, serving as Adjunct Professor at Marymount Manhattan College for a number of years. Summers were spent with her nose in a book or ten.
In 2005, Jason married Wendy, and Michele became "Mana" to four grandchildren over the years, Owen, Oliver, Grace and Rory. She reveled in it and loved to read with them.
Over the years she was President of the Lake Carmel Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, President of the Lake Carmel-Kent Soccer Club, President of the Father Licata Lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) and, beginning in 2021, the State President of the New York State Grand Lodge of OSDIA (which was a self-proclaimed "bucket list" goal of hers for some time). She was also active in local politics and a trustee of her community library and the Mid-Hudson Library System. Michele was not only a joiner, but also a leader. She believed in showing up for the causes and people she cared about, and expected the same from everyone else. Michele set a high bar for what it meant to show up.
She would tell stories of her travels with friends or relatives, safari in Africa where she was nose to nose with a lion but for some tent canvas, attending political protests, secret parachuting lessons to the dismay of her parents, and other adventures. Michele also delighted in tradition, particularly holiday meals. Her family will fail to recreate her stuffed mushrooms for many years to come.
Michele is survived by her husband Eric, children Rebecca and Jason, daughter-in-law Wendy, grandchildren Owen, Oliver, Grace and Rory, and sister Norma Cangiano. She was loved and will be missed by many more.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cargain Funeral Home, 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY.
A Mass of Christian Rite to celebrate and honor Michele's life will commence at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at St. James the Apostle Church, 14 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY.
Following the Mass, Michele will be escorted to her final resting place at Raymond Hill Cemetery, Route 52, Carmel, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Michele's memory to the New York State Grand Lodge Foundation Inc., please mail to: Jason Ment, c/o Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512.
For those who are unable to join in person, please follow the links below for a ZOOM broadcast of the Mass live:
Saturday:
Cargain Funeral Homes Mahopac/Carmel is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:
Mass of Christian Burial to Celebrate the Life of Michele Cangiano Ment
June 3, 2023 - 09:45 a.m. (EDT)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89831018428?pwd=RmFsSDAzV3h5Zlc5ZlVVeXRuTys0dz09
Meeting ID: 898 3101 8428
Passcode: CARGAIN
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY, 10512, (845) 225-3672, www.cargainfuneralhomes.com.
Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc. is deeply committed to responsibly responding to the health, well being, and needs of the families, guests and communities we are privileged to serve.