Obituary: Manuel J. “Manny” Mello, Jr., 81, Longtime Peabody Resident

Obituary from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home:

Manuel J. “Manny” Mello, Jr., 81, of Peabody, died Friday evening at Riverview Healthcare Community in Coventry, RI following a brief illness. He was the former husband of Patricia A (Moynihan) Mello of Salem.

Born in Peabody, he was the son of the late Manuel and Mary (Amaral) Mello.  He was a longtime resident of Peabody and graduated from St. John’s Prep in 1950. He continued his education at Boston College and received his BS in 1954.

After graduating from Boston College, Manny enlisted with the United States Army and served for two years during the Korean War. After his discharge, he returned to Boston College and continued his education and received his MSW in 1958.

While living in Peabody, Manny was a faithful and active parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Church and was the youngest basketball coach for the CYO Program, leading the 1950 team to the championship.

After receiving his MSW from BC, he began a long and successful career as social worker for children. He was employed with Job Corp for many years in Seattle, Oregon and Poland Springs, Maine. He played an instrumental role for legislation for group homes for the physically and mentally challenged. Finally, before retiring, he was employed with Polaroid as family social worker.

He is survived by a son, John J. Mello of Raleigh, NC, four daughters, Kathleen and her husband Richard Humphrey of West Warwick, RI, Anne Marie Platt of Ipswich, Patricia and her husband Ron LeMere of New Durham, NH, and Rosemary and her husband Simon Minor of Ipswich, his sister, Cynthia and her husband Hannibal Costa of Tiverton, RI and is also survived by nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren and four nieces and two nephews of the Costa family. 

His funeral service will be held on Friday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4 until 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St John’s Prep or   WoundedWarriorProject.org.