Kathryn Mary Manginelli (nee Curtis), age 61, of Durham passed away on November 11th, 2018 under hospice care following a two-and-a-half-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Formerly from Long Island, NY, and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Kathryn was a graduate of the class of 1975 at Maria Regina H.S. in Uniondale, NY. In 2011 she moved to Durham, NC, and worked in the Intellectual Property Group of Alston & Bird LLP. In December 2016, and eight months after being diagnosed with ALS, she graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina Central University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Kathryn is survived by her devoted husband of 18 years, Joseph Manginelli; her son, Matthew Reis of Vail, CO; her stepdaughter, Theresa Manginelli and granddaughter, Alexis Nevins of Walton, NY; stepson, Joseph Manginelli of St. Charles, MI; sister, Eileen Patriarca of Mebane, NC; brothers, William Curtis and wife, Joan, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Paul Curtis and wife, Vera Lynn Lonardo, of Massapequa, NY; and Howard Curtis and wife, Andrea, of Carle Place, NY; along with three nephews and three nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Curtis, Sr., and wife, Ruth (nee Grunfelder), and sister, Barbara F. Curtis.
A funeral mass will be held on December 1st, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Advocate in Chapel Hill, NC with a burial of ashes to follow.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Episcopal Church of the Advocate, 8410 Merin Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 or to TeamGleason.org.
The Manginelli family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham, NC. For online condolences, please visit www.hallwynne.com; select obits.
Leena Lassiter
November 14, 2018 at 9:41 amI would like to start out by saying that Kathryn will always be remembered as a true warrior and brave in so many ways. I’m so garateful and honored to have know her. Because of her strength & inspiration I will continue to keep her memory alive, and remember the good times as well as continue to raise money/fight for an ALS cure. Blessings to her in heaven, for she will be forever be missed.
Stephanie West
November 14, 2018 at 3:04 pmKathryn was an incredible woman and her unmatched charisma, personality and charm. She has been and will continue to be a light to others for years to come. Kathryn is truly unforgettable and it is hard to accept that she is not here with us. Having had the pleasure of working with Kathryn for several years, I have witnessed her strength, determination and perseverance firsthand. Kathryn was an innovator even when she may not have realized it. She inspired some incredible resources with her tireless pursuit of being a top fundraiser and team captain for the Walk to Defeat ALS. Her questions and tenacity kept us busy and infused creativity and innovation that helped shape how we support participants. Team Kathryn had an astonishing 89 team members, which is a testament to her social nature and strong leadership. Kathryn will be missed by everyone who knew her, but she lives on in our hearts and my thoughts are with her family in this difficult time. <3
Susan Frattura
November 14, 2018 at 5:56 pmDear Joe,
I am very sorry for your loss. Kathryn was a good friend and I will always remember her and her strong voice. We’ve lost a beautiful person on earth but Heaven gained a special Angel. She’s going to look over you from above.
Love,
Sue
Alyssa and Jon Glogowski
November 15, 2018 at 5:59 pmKathryn taught me many things is such a short time. Most importantly, she taught me not to give up. She was a fighter until the end. She will be greatly missed. Very few people shine like she did.
Joe, our thoughts are with you. You know that we are always here for you. Thanks for putting up with us. We love you.
Keep shining Kathryn, keep shining.
Anne Tofalo
November 16, 2018 at 10:54 amMy life was enriched by knowing Kathryn. Her courage and spirit will ever be a light in my life. She met life’s challenges with grace, determination, and good humor.
She lives in my memory. Peace be with you, Kathryn.
Ericka Pirozzi
November 28, 2018 at 10:26 amKathryn and I shared a love of many things but especially Disney (it’s how we first connected)! I was truly inspired by her positive attitude even when things were hard and I will miss her friendship. I pray she is in heaven free of suffering and showing off her Minnie ears!
Love always,
Ericka