- December 20, 2024
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It is with deep sadness that our family shares the news of Alice Manthey’s passing on December 12, 2023 in her home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Alice Stella Kroll was born on April 17, 1939 in Bloomfield NJ, to parents who ran Oppenheimer’s Meats, a small meat purveyor’s shop in Montclair NJ. She graduated in the class of 1961 from Douglass College (of Rutgers University) and taught fifth grade. Having known Stewart Otto Manthey since the 6th grade, she married him in 1963. The birth of their first child came in 1965, quickly followed by three more children. They settled in Wayne, NJ where she stayed home to raise her 4 children before ultimately returning to the workforce as an administrative assistant at a pharmaceutical company. Stewart and Alice were active parishioners at Wayne Presbyterian Church, where she and other members of a small choir filled the church with beautiful music every Sunday for years.
Stew and Alice retired to Palm Coast in 2005 and joined the faith community of Palm Coast Bible Church. Alice was always active, and the cancer that took her robbed her first of that enjoyment. From softball to tennis to paddle tennis to playing catch in the yard with the kids to golf, Alice was a good athlete who enjoyed the exercise and camaraderie that sports offered. In their retirement, she and Stew roamed the country playing golf along the way. An annual travel odyssey to escape the hot summers of Florida put many miles behind them. Stewart and Alice shared a long life together of common interests and strong community filled with lifelong friendships.
Alice was a lot of things to a lot of people over her lifetime: wife, mother, sister, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, friend, co-worker, golf partner… and there is no way to capture all she meant to those blessed with a place in her heart. Certainly Alice was — and remains — the quintessential role model for her family and peers: wise, hardworking, practical, tenacious, devoted, loving, and strong (so strong!). Life’s challenges and heartbreaks were met head on with quiet resolve and stoicism that was nothing short of remarkable. Alice also made us laugh with her wry humor and wit, and while not overly demonstrative, no one ever doubted they were special and much loved. She was simply someone you couldn’t help but admire. Our family has lost a pillar of strength and fount of guidance, but Alice will continue to influence our lives for the better thanks to the lessons she taught us through leading by example. Those lessons, along with her deep spiritual faith, are a big part of the loving legacy Alice has left behind.
Survived by Stewart Manthey, her husband of 60 years; Kristen Manthey-Tayler (Mark) of Succasunna, NJ; Brian (Margie) Manthey of Otisco, NY; Alison Manthey of Salida, CO; grandchildren Jack, Eric and Jensen Tayler; Tyler and Shane Manthey; Vasey and Lily Stephens.
Pre-deceased by her parents Tony and Jean Kroll; brother Gerald Kroll; and daughter Marilyn Manthey, who was born with a rare congenital defect called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, which brought many developmental challenges and took her life in February 2000 at the age of 29.
Please pray for our family as we grieve this deep loss. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the Cornelia de Lange Foundation at www.cdlsusa.org. Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service of Bunnell, FL assisted the family with arrangements.
www.HeritageFlagler.com
