Alexander (Alex) J. Manuele

Whitehall/Huletts Landing:  Alexander (Alex) John Manuele , 93, died Friday, February 26 at the Glens Falls Hospital after a short illness.

He was born in Cadiz, Ohio on January 22, 1923 to Luigi and Maria Domenica (DiDonato) D’Emanuele.  His family moved to Whitehall in 1930.

Alex was a 1941 graduate of Whitehall High School.  A natural musician, Alex was proficient in several instruments, and played in various bands since he was a young man.  His favorite music was Dixieland, and he played banjo with the Dixieland Jazz Band for several years.

During WWII, Alex joined the US Marines as soon as he was of age, serving as a bombardier/navigator on a B-25 in the South Pacific.   All his flights were over enemy territory.   Alex earned four air medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross with four stars on it.

Alex had several long careers serving others.  After the war, he graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Physical Therapy which, at the time, was a new medical profession in the US.  He practiced physical therapy for many years in Whitehall and Glens Falls.

He received a masters degree in Speech Pathology from the College of St. Rose, and served the area school systems for many years.  Later in life he returned to physical therapy for Westmont Health Facility in Queensbury, overseeing the work of other physical therapists.  He retired from work in his 70’s.

Alex was a member of American Legion Post No. 83 of Whitehall for many years, and a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council  No. 276 for 69 years, where he held several official positions.

Besides his parents, Alex was predeceased by his wife, Agatha Waters, and two brothers, Joseph and John. 

Alex is survived by his wife, Catherine Charron-LaBier Huletts Landing, a brother Fred of Chicago, IL; two sons, Kevin of Portland, Oregon and John of Brooklyn, NY; three grandchildren, Ben and Rachel Manuele (Colgan) of Portland, Oregon, and Kevin Manuele of Brooklyn, NY;  three stepsons, Andre LaBier of Montgomery Center, Vt., Rene LaBier of Voorheesville, NY, and Ernest LaBier of Schenectady, NY;  and step grandchildren Taini Robert, Zoe Labier, Dane LaBier, Christian LaBier, Richard LaBier, Brett LaBier and  Reece LaBier.

Alex was smart.

He was kind.

He was generous.

He was humble (although he had so very many reasons not to be).

He was loved.

He is missed.   

Family and friends may call at the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams Street, Whitehall on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 2PM to 4PM and 6PM to 8PM. The American Legion Post #83 will conduct a Legionnaire service at 7:30 PM followed by the Rosary being recited by the Knights of Columbus.

A time of remembrance will be held at 7:15pm at the funeral home.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Rendell Torres, pastor officiating.

Pall bearers will be his sons, Kevin Manuele and John Manuele and his grandsons, Ben Manuele and Kevin Manuele.

Interment, with full military honors, will be in the spring at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Whitehall.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation in Alex’s name to Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church Memorial Fund, 9 Wheeler Avenue, Whitehall, New York 12887 or Skene Manor Preservation Inc., 8 Potters Drive, Whitehall, New York 12887.

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