Vincent A. "Pops" Mangiamele

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Vincent (Pops) A. Mangiamele, born on November 8, 1945, in Philadelphia, PA was sent to his eternal home, at the age of 79, on December 1, 2024 in the arms of his loving wife surrounded by his family in his home in Lehighton, PA.  He was the beloved son of the late Nicholas and Catherine (Slater) Mangiamele of Pennsauken, NJ.

Vince graduated from Pennsauken High School in NJ.  Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, served 3 years in Vietnam, 1965-1967, aboard the SS George Clymer as a Maintenance Engineer achieving the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class.  After honorably serving his country, he began a career as a Union Boilermaker with Local 13, Philadelphia, PA.  He worked 31 years as a welder, foreman, and superintendent and enjoyed 21 years of retirement.  Pops was a proud member of The American Legion Post 314 and the Fraternal Order of the Free and Accepted Masons.

Pops, as he was affectionately known, was the patriarch of the Mangiamele clan.  He was a family man through and through.  Whether it was overriding a parent’s punishment by saying, “Not at Pop Pop’s house,” or teaching his grandchildren how to fish, or chastising his sons for not doing it exactly how he would do it, Pops was always there to teach a valuable lesson.  He was big on tradition and the holidays. You’d always find his family gathered at his house for Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.  There was never an excuse to not be around family.  Despite the moans and warnings of each Christmas getting harder to afford with his growing brood, every child would gather around their PopPop and Nina and be treated to the best Christmas every year. 

He was surly on the exterior and made you earn his respect, but he had a huge heart once you got to know him.  Never one to shy away from sharing his opinion, his advice was always sound and from the heart.  Even when he was giving you the lecture you needed, but didn’t want, it was filled with sincerity, honesty, wisdom and love.

A practical man, Pops was always prepared for the worst and his gifts reflected that - socket sets, winter coats, emergency roadside kits, and various other tools necessary for survival in case of the collapse of civilization or you get stranded on the side of the road.  He was as self-sufficient as he could be and rarely relied on others.  He was an avid hunter, angler, and outdoorsman that had a DIY fix for everything.  If it could be super glued or duct taped, Pops was there to save the day.

He was a rich man in family values.  Vincent, loving husband of Jane (Williams) Mangiamele, was pre-deceased by his first wife Barbara Buday Mangiamele.  He was the father to, and survived by, 8 children – sons Vincent Mangiamele (Calista) Jim Thorpe, PA, Michael Mangiamele (Jennifer) Lehighton, PA, Jason Orwan (Nichole) Hanover Twp, PA, Zach Mangiamele – Lehighton, PA, and Tucker Mangiamele (Ashley) East Stroudsburg, PA– daughters Dawn Mangiamele (Anthony) Allentown, NJ, Jennifer Bouie (Louis) Walnutport, PA, and Donna Gedling Mangiamele – Jim Thorpe, PA.  His children blessed him with 23 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

The oldest of 10 siblings, Vincent is resting peacefully with his younger brother Anthony Mangiamele and survived by his other eight siblings – Nicholas Mangiamele (Helen) FL, Linda Holmes (Joe) FL, Jack Mangiamele (Cindy) PA, Kathy Connell – FL, Karen Mangiamele – NJ, Lisa Corbin – NJ, Paul Mangiamele (Cheri) NJ, and Mark Mangiamele (Nina) NJ.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wounded Warriors of Pennsylvania. Funeral Services in his honor will be held on Monday, Dec.9th at 2 p.m. at The Ovsak FH, 190 S 4th St., Lehighton with the Reverend Christopher M. Zelonis officiating. Call 12-2 p.m. Monday. Military Honors will be conducted by the Lehighton Area UVO.

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