Katherine Mancuso

Katherine S. Mancuso (born Ekaterina S. Kaleka) passed away peacefully on December 20th, 2020, surrounded by her devoted daughters, Anna and Marie, as well as her loving husband, James. After many difficult but successful fights against breast cancer and other ailments, "Kitty" passed away early Sunday morning after a series of strokes and an unrelenting case of pneumonia. She was 86. In heaven, she will join her parents, Apostolides and Anastasia, her son, Vincent, as well as her brother, James, who passed away just a week earlier. Life of all sorts - animal, plant, and human - thrived in her presence, as she flourished in theirs. She loved gardening and feeding the songbirds that flocked by the dozens to the many birdfeeders in her yard. She would walk down to the bay to watch overhead as the Canada Geese made their migratory journey South. Kitty also worked for many years as the business manager at her husband's veterinary practice, The Animal Hospital of the Five Towns. Together they healed countless sick and injured animals and brought beautiful new life into the world. She was a consistent fixture at the services of Our Lady of Good Counsel, where each Sunday she asked the priest to bless her. She herself was a cherished blessing to those around her. Parishioners knew her for her strong and magnificent singing voice. In her absence, there will be a sad silence left among the pews. A lover of all things musical, Kitty was always singing for herself and for others. When confined to a rehab facility after a fall, she would wheel herself into her neighbors' rooms and serenade them with Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" to raise their spirits up. She attended Harpur College, where she studied English. She put her literary skills to good use as a children's librarian, and later as a catechism teacher. Kitty was also well known for her unmatched sense of humor. Always quick with a joke, she could even be a bit of a heckler, though always with nothing but love. As her grandson stood waiting for his fiancé at the marriage altar, Kitty piped up from the crowd, "Don't look so nervous, Andrew!" She loved celebrations of all sorts and was the life of the party. She was always looking forward to a good feast, particularly of spanakopita and baklava, or anything else Greek (her first language, which she spoke all her life)! She loved dancing - with everyone from her grandchildren, to her husband, to the saxophonist at her grandson's wedding. Her family and friends will never stop singing, dancing, and loving the world in her memory. Kitty was a wonderful mother to Anna, Marie, Vincent, and James. She is survived by Anna, Marie, and James. She is also survived by her devoted husband, Dr. James G. Mancuso, her loving sons-in-law, Frank and Jeffrey, her cherished daughter-in-law, Jessica, and her many grandchildren: Christopher, Elliot, Andrew, Evan, Jason, Katherine, Melissa, James, and Nicholas. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in her name to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.