AYER — Luigi V. Manni, 82, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, West Roxbury.
He was the husband of Beatrice (Wheeler) Manni, who died in 1963.
Mr. Manni was born in Boston on June 3, 1926, one of nine children born to Victor J. and Geiaconda (Santurri) Manni and has resided in the Ayer area for over 45 years. He grew up in the North End of Boston and had attended St. Leonard’s Church there.
He served his country in the armed forces for over 24 years. He served in the United States Navy for four years and then for 20 years in the United States Army as a military policeman, before retiring in 1969.
Following his retirement from the armed services, Mr. Manni worked as a policeman in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, retiring in 1989.
He is survived by a son, Victor J. Manni, of Leominster; a daughter, Pamela A. Manni, of Ayer; a stepdaughter, Donna Kidder, of Ayer; his longtime caretaker, Pat Smith, of Ayer; four brothers, Roy Manni, of California, Henry Manni, of Saugus, Victor Manni, of Wilmington, and John Manni, of Tewksbury; and three sisters, Rose Rocca, of Billerica, Rita Farrington, of Lexington, and Mary Naples, of Medford. He also leaves five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was the brother of Clara DiCarlo, who died earlier this year.
He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Shirley VFW and Ayer American Legion Post. He also enjoyed raising turkeys for domestic consumption.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, Ayer. Please see www.andersonfuneral.com for additional information. Burial will be in the Fort Devens Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spinal Cord Clinic at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Mass., attn: Dr. Hess, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132.
