Obituary of Anita J. Mangiaracina

Anita Jeanette Mangiaracina passed away on February 16, 2024 at the age of 90. Anita is predeceased by her father Salvatore (George), mother Anna, brother Salvatore (Sal) Mangiaracina, former and always loved husband Charles (Steve) McGuire, and sons-in-law Edgar Guerra and Barry Wien. Anita is survived by her six loving children Frank (Elizabeth) McGuire, Sally (Ron) Matics, Mary McGuire (Brian Shaw), Martha (Mark) Kvaltine, Katie (Peter) Milianes and George (Tanya) McGuire; 13 grandchildren Allison (Josh) Miller and Patrick (Mary Ellen) McGuire, Ariel Guerra, Leah (Joey) Franceschini, Charlie and Harriet McGuire-Wien, Anna and Bob Ahern, Kelsey Franks, Jeremy Milianes, Grace, Abby and Aidan McGuire; and 11 great-grandchildren Owen, Elle, Finn, Maeve, Adeline (Addy), Sophia, Liliana (Lilly), Eleanore (Elly), Trevor and Lucas and (predeceased) baby Scarlett Rose, as well as her beautiful sisters-in-law LuLu Belle (Mike, predeceased) McGuire and Rosemarie Mangiaracina. Anita also leaves her cherished nieces and nephews Christopher, Michael and Anne Marie (Mangiaracina) and Shane and Shelly (McGuire) as well as her longtime friends Barbara (Bobbie) Dodge and Sabina Gilinsky. Anita was born in Brooklyn N.Y., after which her family moved to Long Island where Anita graduated from East Rockaway High School. Anita attended Adelphi University before marrying Charles (Steve) McGuire. Frank was born in the Bronx before Steve served in the Army, where they lived for three years on base in Augsburg, Germany where Sally and Mary were born. Upon their return to the States and after a couple of moves, first to Holbrook/Dedham, Massachusetts where Martha and Katie were born, and then Park Ridge, Illinois, the family settled in Binghamton where George was born. Family was everything to Anita and she was happiest when she had her family with her. Anita was an accomplished artist in paint and sculpture, having obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (graduating Magna cum laude) from Long Island University, following which she moved back to Binghamton and taught art in Vestal and other surrounding area schools. Anita had a beautiful Soprano voice and sang many years with the Tri-City Opera where her kids remember being backstage at the Masonic Temple to see all the opera singers in their ornate costumes, many of which Anita helped sew as this was another of her many talents. Anita also raised money for the Tri-Cities Opera Guild by planning and hosting in her backyard an authentic Hawaiian Luau which was so impressive it made it into the Binghamton newspaper. Her 100% Italian heritage made her one of the best cooks and bakers around, making everything from scratch for her family and the many parties she hosted where she became known as "the hostess with the mostest!". She felt tradition was important and her kids remember with fondness the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner 'feast of the many fishes' where she would take us on trips to Masciarelli's Italian Market on Susquehanna Street to pick up all the different seafood she would prepare including smelt, shrimp, calamari, eel, octopus, and escargot (ask any of the kids about the time the snails escaped the boiling pot of water on the stove!). Anita's kitchen was never a boring place. Anita's Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 A.M. on Friday, February 23rd at St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Church located at 465 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850, following which friends and family will be invited to gather for a meal in Anita's honor. The family will receive friends at the Church on Friday, from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association or Mercy House of the Southern Tier, are greatly appreciated.