Jeanne M. Mangan Sanczel, 95 years of age, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all, peacefully passed into eternal life on Saturday, December 2, 2023 surrounded by her children, grandchild and dear friend.
Jeanne lived in Poultney for the last few years with her daughter Michelle and Terry McCarron, she made many friends at Young at Heart Senior Center and as a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church.
Jeanne was born on February 28, 1928 in Lambertville, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Albert T. Mangan and Marie A Donovan Mangan. Jeanne spent her childhood in Lambertville and graduated from Lambertville High School in 1945. Her senior year was marked by many of her classmates, along with her brother John (Jack) Mangan of Lambertville, volunteering for the armed services. In support of the war effort, Jeanne and her mother joined the other women in town working at the Diamond Silver Factory in Lambertville.
Jeanne’s skills were developed working at the local bakery, Western Union, and as a bank teller. On her days off in 1948, she loved to dance at the juke joint, “Alotawanna,” she met Army Air Corps Vet and future husband Robert J Sanczel.
On October 16, 1949, Jeanne married Robert J. Sanczel in Lambertville and raised nine children in the countryside of eastern Pennsylvania, where they ran a newspaper distribution business until 1977. The following year Jeanne and Bob relocated to Tampa, Fla., where she worked at the U.S. Post Office for fifteen years. Jeanne then enjoyed her retirement in Sun City Center, Fla., where she loved advancing her artistic skills by painting landscapes and portraits. She also enjoyed volunteering as a nurse’s aide and socializing with her Sun City friends. One of her favorite memories, while traveling with family through many U.S. states and in Europe, was kissing the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland!
In 1959, as a mother of five, Jeanne was the artist’s model for the cover of “Catholic Miss” magazine. Jeanne was also an active member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center where she enjoyed singing in the choir.
Jeanne is survived by eight of her children: Karen M. Rueter (Ronald), of Sarasota, Fla., Michelle T. McCarron (Terry) of Poultney, Vt., Marylee J Allan (Donald), of Kirkland, Wash., Stephen Sanczel (Vicki), of Plant City, Fla., Jennifer A. Clarke (Rick) of Matthews, N.C., Patrick A Sanczel of Dover, Fla., Aimee C Hazelton (Kevin) of Rock Hill, S.C., Sean E. Sanczel (Christie) of Bangor, Pa.
Jeanne is also survived by 16 grandchildren: Stephen John Rueter, (Katharine), Joseph Rueter, Edmund Rueter (Dana), Tara Cornell (TJ), Peter Allan (Brittani), Michael Allan (Jillian), Daniel Allan (Rachel), Matthew Allan, Eric Buffone (Jose), Jessica Sanczel, Bo Sasso (Aubrey), Alexander Clarke (Raquel), Ashley Clarke, Samuel Clarke, John Hazelton, Paul Hazelton.
Jeanne is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Jackson Rueter, Hadley Rueter, Lincoln Rueter, Aurora Rueter, Quintessa Rueter Dolgin, True Rueter, Lahela Rueter, Aiden Cornell, Rider Cornell, Brodee Cornell, Crew Allan, Levi Allan, Brooklyn Rose Allan, Caius Clarke. She also leaves behind her loving niece Joan Mangan Smith (Frank), their children Rebecca Smith-Casey (Thomas) and Andrew Smith (Irene) and great-nephews; Scott Whitney, Finnigan Casey, Luca and Mateo Smith.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband Robert J. Sanczel Sr., and her eldest son Robert “Cheech” Sanczel Jr., her parents Albert and Marie Mangan, her brother John (Jack) Mangan and his wife Gloria, and their eldest daughter, Jane Mangan Whitney.
In lieu of flowers Jeanne’s wish that donations be made in her name to one of the following:
St. Raphael Catholic Church, 21 East Main St., Poultney VT, 05764, Young at Heart Senior Center, 206 Furnace St., Poultney, VT 05764, St. Johns the Evangelist, 13 N Main St., Lambertville, NJ 08530.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Garefino Funeral Home in Lambertville, N.J.
Jeanne was laid to rest in Old Rocks Cemetery, in W. Amwell Twp., N.J.
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