Obituary of Chandra Mantell
HERKIMER/NORTH CAROLINA - Mrs. Chandra C. Mantell, age 79, formerly of Herkimer, New York and Durham, North Carolina, died on November 21, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina after an extended illness.
Chandra was born on February 21, 1940 and raised in Georgia. She moved to Norfolk, Virginia in her late teens and met her future husband, a dashing young sailor named Ralph M. Mantell, Jr.. Ralph and Chandra were married on August 29, 1958, and when Ralph’s service in the United States Navy ended, he and Chandra returned to his hometown of Herkimer in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York.
Ralph and Chandra raised three (3) children, Linda, Susan, and Mike. Chandra and Ralph were communicants of St. Francis de Sales Church in Herkimer. In addition, Chandra worked caring for the elderly at Valley Health Services in Herkimer, and also provided care and companionship for many years to Ralph’s mother, Clare Sanzo Mantello. After leaving Valley Health Services, Chandra provided daycare and after-school care to numerous local children.
Sadly, Ralph died in May of 2003, shortly after his retirement from Goodrich (formerly TRW Aeronautical Systems) of Rome, N.Y. After Ralph’s passing, Chandra relocated to Durham, North Carolina and lived for approximately fifteen (15) years with her son (Mike), his wife (Janet – formerly Janet Waghorn, also originally of Herkimer) and their daughter (Jenna). Durham truly became “home” for Chandra. In addition to enjoying life with Mike, Janet, and Jenna, Chandra developed close ties with many of their friends and neighbors, including Rose and Lauren Gagliardi, Elizabeth Anderson and Chris and Rich Moyle.
Chandra resided in Columbia, S.C. from June of 2018, with loving care provided by her daughter, Susan, and much attention from her grandchildren Charlie and Mary Chandler, and Charlie’s fiancée Alexa Cox (an “honorary grand-daughter”). After moving into an apartment at Rice Estate in Columbia, Chandra quickly developed friendships there, especially with Eleanor Davis and Ginny Broddack.
Chandra was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Ralph M. Mantell, Jr., and by her daughter, Linda Shepherd (who died on April 13, 2016). She is survived by her daughter, Susan Mantell Black (Charles) of Columbia, S.C.; by her son, R. Michael Mantell, III. (Janet) formerly of Durham, N.C. and now of North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Chandra is also survived by six (6) grandchildren: Charles (“Charlie”) M. Black, III. and Mary Chandler Black of Columbia, S.C.; Jenna Mantell, formerly of Durham, N.C. and now of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Mark Shepherd, Michael Shepherd, and John Shepherd.
In addition to her grandchildren listed above, Chandra delighted in numerous “four-legged grandchildren” through the years in both Durham and Columbia, including Rudy, Nelson, Winston, Zack, Romeo, Duke, Buster, Benny, and Ruger.
A graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in the Spring of 2020, where Chandra will be laid to rest next to Ralph.
Memorials in honor of Chandra may be made to the charity of one’s choice. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the outpouring of support and assistance from friends and family, both in person and via various social media.
Chandra’s final wishes were pre-arranged and entrusted to Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors of the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 North Washington Street, Herkimer, NY (315) 866-1011. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.