Friday, November 13, 2020
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Tribute to Mannie Panaro Green
By A Close Friend, Ginny Lohmann Nodhturft
Indeed, November 10,2020 is a sad day for all who knew and loved Mannie. The pain and sadness we all feel is hard to describe. We cannot begin to comprehend the extreme loss Mannie’s family is experiencing now.
Mannie’s passing has fallen heavily on the hearts of all who loved her. Her family and friends are in an overwhelming state of shock, but I write this tribute to Mannie to honor a great woman named Mannie, and to offer my comfort the best I can to Mannie’s Family.
Mannie was an extraordinary woman in so many ways. She was a devoted, faithful wife to Danny and a warm loving mom and grandma to her son and grandchildren. She was a warmhearted person, very petite, quiet, reserved, very smart, and was the best dressed gal in our high school class. She always had an air of elegance about her. She always had beautiful purses, gloves shoes & hats. All her accessories matched in color. She had nice jewelry too. Quality stuff, real gold, diamonds, pearls not custom jewelry. She was always a good student, a member of the honor society in High school. She was somewhat domestic as I remember. She cooked well, sewed, and did girl type things (makeup, nails & hair).
Her parents were very strict. Our parents used her parents as a barometer. If there was an activity going on and Mannie was allowed to go, we’d all say to our parents “Well Mannie is allowed to go so we should be able to go too”.
Mannie and I made our first Holy Communion together and marched in the Feast of Assumption Parade together in our white communion dresses, veil, and fancy shoes and socks. After the parade we’d change our clothes and go to the feast held down near Toni Irolano’s house. She was part of the gang who went to Confession every Saturday rain, shine or sleet with Father Keene.
I remember Mannie had an old out house in the backyard of her big old house on Homestead Avenue that we converted into a play house. We hung curtains on the windows, had a makeshift table and chairs inside and we would play in that converted doll house for hours. We had the best time. Her Mom would invite me in for a bite to eat. It was always some delicious Italian dish that was so good. Her Mom was a great cook. The inside of the house always smelled of some Italian specialty.
Mannie and I went to OCCC together and lived in a house with four other girls. While in college we met two West Point Cadets one evening and they talked us into sneaking them out of West Point one weekend. The four of us planned the escape that was to take place two weeks following the night we met them. I gave them the key to my car trunk. In those days one key opened the trunk and one started the ignition. We drove to the spot where they told us to be at a very specific time. When we stopped, they were supposed to jump the wall and hop in the trunk and we would drive out the front gate. As we were waiting for them the military police came by and asked what Mannie and I were doing. I said we were going to join my parents for dinner at the Thayer Hotel. They said fine but what are you doing here at this spot. I said I ‘m looking for my wallet. They said Ok, but this is a common area where the cadets try to sneak out. Mannie was so nervous she almost threw up. The Military Police left and the cadets jumped the wall and got in the back seat instead of the trunk and got on the back floor. We were all scared to death. I drove out the front gate and off to Dino’s in Middletown we went for a fun night.
Mannie and I worked at the Albany VA Hospital and were roommates again in the nurses’ quarters on the top floor of the VA Hospital. Eventually we moved out of the nurses’ quarters into our own apartment. I have so many stories and memories of Mannie during our Albany days that I could never mention here. They would make your hair curl. Mannie would join us occasionally for water skiing, snow skiing, hiking, but Mannie was not the athletic type, but enjoyed just being with all of our friends.
One weekend we were off and I invited Danny Green and some of his buddies to Albany. We had a party and Mannie and Dannie started their romantic relationship and eventually got married in 1968. I was honored to have been in their wedding party. I consider Mannie one of my very best friends from high school.
She was esteemed and loved by all who knew her. The kindliness and tenderness of her heart was seen and felt by all who came within the charmed circle of her intimacy.
What is it we remember when we think of Mannie? I think everyone who knows her well would agree with me on this. It was her warm heart, her desire to do nice things for others, her air of dignity, her joy of being around her family and the joy she received when interacting with friends.
I have such fond memories of Mannie. In high school she was so smart, upbeat personality and was just beautiful inside and out. She had a magnetic personality, was popular and had many friends. That’s how I remember Mannie in High School. And after high school she was one extraordinary Registered Nurse who worked on a very busy Medical Surgical unit at the Albany VA. Everyone was relieved to know Mannie was on their shift on a particular day or evening because if they ran into a problem Mannie always knew how to take care of it. It was reassuring for the other nurse to know she was on duty with them.
She has left a void that no one can fill-laid forever at rest. Every time Danny Jr. sees the bright sun beaming down or a bright star in the sky, I’m sure he will think of his Mom. Her son was the love of her life. She was his sunshine and his bright shining star. She did everything humanly possible to lighten Danny, Sr’s. workload so he could focus on his job. She absolutely adored Danny and did everything for Danny with love.
It’s all over, the last struggle with her health condition is past, the strife, anxiety, the pain, the turmoil of life is over. Henceforth, her great life marked at every step will be remembered with fondness and love forever.
She will truly be missed by all her friends. She has left behind numerous memories that will never forgotten. When someone you love becomes a memory they leave behind a treasure. Mannie has left many wonderful treasured memories for her family and for all who knew and loved her.
This is our time to celebrate her life. So, this is the moment we should all be thankful that we were given a chance to have known a wonderful woman named Mannie. She meant something to each and every one of you. And this is the time to cherish those memories that each have of Mannie.
Mannie’s life was filled with joy, hope, enthusiasm, courage, and love. Her journey was a great one full packed with fun and adventure and surrounded by a loving husband, son, grandchildren, and friends.
With Mannie’s passing she lives on. She lives on in each of you with her warm, loving spirit.
We need to make your lives purposeful and infuse Mannie’s spirit in others. We need to tap into Mannie’s pure gold and inoculate others with her warm, loving spirit to give strength to others in need, so they can lead an abundance of life as Mannie did. In Mannie’s legacy we must bring hope, joy and peace to others.
Danny there is a special spot in heaven for you. There is a saying that says “how we handle our tough times stays with us for a long time”. You have handled your tough time with grace, dignity, sacrifice, commitment, and put your needs on the back burner to be by Mannie’s side every single day, taking care of her medical care needs, offering comfort, love, support, and entertainment to keep her spirits up. You have done everything humanly possible to care for Mannie. You were the best husband any person could hope to have. You have been an extraordinary inspiration to all of us Danny.
And Danny Jr. you have to take comfort in knowing you were the best son Mannie could have had. You lifted her spirits and filled her heart with joy. You provided her with laughter, joy, and fun. You provided her with beautiful loving grandchildren. She loved you more than you will ever realize.
I’d like to share this poem. It reads like this:
Life is but a stopping place
A pause in what’s to be.
A resting place along the road,
To sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never meant to stay.
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some the journey’s slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We’ll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord.
I pray for comfort, peace, encouragement for Danny, Sr, Danny, Jr. to mend them and restore them so they can move on to where they need to be. I pray that God will carry you all thru this difficult time.
Dear Lord, Mannie is at your side and in your hands now, please take good care of her. Please take her hand to greet her parents, and sister now in heaven. And, please help Mannie’s family find the courage, strength, and self-confidence to cope with this extraordinary loss.
