Mangiafico, Paul J.

Paul Joseph Mangiafico passed away on Sunday March 14, 2021. He had lived a full 91 years. Born to Sebastian and Sebastiana Mangiafico, Paul grew up in East Hartford and Hartford with his two siblings. He graduated from trade school and enlisted in the U.S. Army, proudly serving his country overseas during the Korea War. Paul returned and began his career as a Tool and Die maker. After mentioning that he wished to meet a nice girl to marry, a date was arranged with a coworker's sister and Paul met the love of his life, Helen Hniedziejko. They married in 1955 and enjoyed 65 years of devotion to each other, until her death last July. They began their family in Hartford and raised their two children in Wethersfield. Paul enjoyed his vegetable garden, stringing the house with blue Christmas lights, fixing everything – including any broken lawn mower, camping during the annual family vacation to White Lake State Park in New Hampshire and later Sun Valley in Stafford Springs. He bowled on championship league teams, but was not a fan of Wii bowling later in life. Paul retired after a short period of employment with the Wethersfield Board of Education. He loved volunteering at the New England Air Museum, using his skill to build custom restoration parts for their B29A and A-26C bombers, and riding in the Veteran's Day parade in Hartford with the VFW. Paul and Helen enjoyed many trips throughout New England, to Branson, and Hawaii.

He is survived by his son Paul and wife Ellen, daughter Kathy and husband Steve, grandsons - Paul and Christopher, and many loving nieces and nephews.

A graveside service with military honors will be held on April 30th at 1PM, at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Donations in Paul's memory can be made to the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT.