Obituary of James R. Manno

How do you measure a life? Is it in the numbers and figures? James Robert Manno, better known as Jim, was born August 2, 1931 in Jamestown. He was the oldest child of Joseph and Helen Manno, and brother to Joyce (Steve) Tillman and Donald (Joanne). He married the love of his life, Joan Cervone, in July of 1956. They had nine children, all with names that start with J, 15 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Dad graduated from Jamestown High School in 1950 and received a degree from Jamestown Community College in 1952. He was in the Army during the Korean War, and worked at Loranger Manufacturing Company until his retirement in 1996. But a life well lived is more than mere numbers. Numbers won't tell the story of Mom catching the eye of Dad while he was attending college classes on the top floor of JHS. Thankfully, his friend wanted to walk Mom's friend home from school one day. In that short walk, their personalities "clicked" - he won her heart with his handsome face, his good humor, and she won his with the same. The two had what one aspires to have in a partner, and their marriage was filled with quiet understanding, compassion, and true partnership. The numbers may show the Nine J's of Dad and Mom: Juliana (Daniel) Wessell, Jeanne (Richard) Allen, Jeannette (Geoff) Turner, Joseph (Rhonda), John (Natalie), Jacqueline (Greg) Stanford, Joyce, James (Kelley), and Janice (Curtis) Mortimer, but can't capture the memories of a close family. He and Mom kept a house filled with love, service, and attention to schoolwork, while also taking time to play. Dad was constantly in motion and kept us all active, too. As spouses and grandchildren became part of his world, his spirit grew even stronger. Numerous multigenerational road trips to every corner of the country created lifelong memories that are cherished by so many of us. Dad was always up for an adventure, especially at National Parks and Historic Sites, but was even happy with the quick stops at various lesser-known wonders, like the World's Largest Mailbox. Dad was the man who worked hard during the week, and then worked just as hard on the evenings and weekends. Whether it was calling Bingo at Saints Peter and Paul School, serving on the School Board, helping with the Celtics and Saint Vincent de Paul Society, serving on the Cemetery Committee and as a member of Church Council, Dad's service to the community was a constant. We often joked that the school or the church knew to call Dad and Mom first because they would always say "yes" to a request for help, no matter the time or how it may impact their own plans. That willingness to help extended beyond the formal channels. The number of times Dad pulled over to help stranded motorists, gave someone a ride who was carrying groceries in the rain, gave money to others in need even when he had multiple kids in college and the budget was tight, are too numerous to count. He did it without looking for acknowledgement or hidden agenda. Truly a selfless servant, Dad embodied the walk of his faith and his example was a powerful testimony to us all. His time with us ended on the evening of April 8, 2022, still holding the hand of Mom. We welcome you to join us for visitation on Tuesday, April 12th, from 4-7 p.m. in the Lind Funeral Home, 805 W. Third Street, Jamestown., where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 3:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13th, at Holy Apostles Parish, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 508 Cherry Street, Jamestown. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice in the same spirit of giving to which Dad lived.