Agnes L. (Iglar) Mantini

Agnes L. Mantini  Age 91, of Upper St. Clair/Scott Twp., on Saturday, July 6, 2019. Beloved wife of the late Alfred E. Mantini; loving mother of Dr. Lisa A. Mantini, Janis L. Mantini (Theodore Rutkowski), Michael A. Mantini (Jackie), Daniel E. Mantini (Luisa) and Matthew J. Mantini (Andrea Spandonis); sister of Michael Iglar (Magdalene) and the late Jon Iglar (surviving, Anne); grandmother of Julie and Alexandra Wright, Andrew and Emma Rutkowski, Michael, Jay, Daniel, Brian, Chase and Clark Mantini. Visitation, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at HENNEY, BRADWELL & NIRELLA FUNERAL HOME, 524 Washington Ave., Carnegie. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church, 310 Kane Blvd., (Scott Twp.) Pgh., 15243.   EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH.

Agnes Iglar Mantini was born January 27 (or 28) 1928 on the south side of Pittsburgh PA to Sophia and Michael Iglar.  Sophia immigrated to the US from Slovakia and Michael, though born in the US, was raised in Slovakia and returned to America for the opportunities.

She was a lovely surprise to her family.  Her mother was giving birth at home and after her brother Jon was born, the midwife discovered that there was another baby yet to come!  This very little girl was breech, so the midwife ran out and brought in a doctor to help with her birth.  She was small and they had doubts about her survival so she was baptized on the spot with people in the neighborhood standing in.  Her father wanted to name her Margaret, but the priest told him that it was Saint Agnes’ Feast Day and that was an omen that she should be named after her.  Her dad gave in and Agnes not only survived, but thrived.  People in the old country did not believe that Sophie had twins, so photos were taken to send back and prove the miracle was real.  Her brother Michael was born two years later.

Her dad worked in the steel mills and her mom cleaned houses.  She told tales of all of them living in a one-bedroom house with no hot water.  The bathroom was outside and down the steps in the dirt floor basement, and was shared with other residents.  Her poor mom suffered a bad fall and broken leg while washing windows one year, but the homeowner paid her a settlement, which enabled them to buy a house of their own.  Her dad made the decision to rent the downstairs of the new house for a year which upset Agnes since the last homeowners had left a piano behind and it was her fondest dream to learn how to play music.  When they finally took over the entire house, the family downstairs took that piano with them!  She never got over this injustice and, as a result, made sure all five of her children studied music, both piano, guitar, and drums.

Agnes and Jon were very close throughout their lives.  They graduated from high school with Jon as number 1 in the class, but Agnes number 3, right behind him, again.  She attributes her college education to Jon, who helped persuade her dad to let her attend, and a state senator to turn over one of Jon’s scholarships to her. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950 with a BS in Accounting.  She worked over 18 different jobs to pay her way through school, with enough time and energy left over to join a sorority.  She was a proud member of ∑∑∑, Tri Sigma.  She was recognized as a Golden Violet by her sorority for her over 50 years of membership several years ago.  Her sorority sisters stayed as some of her closest friends throughout her life.

After graduation she went to work at Westinghouse, but not as an accountant.  Appears no one hired women for those jobs back then.  She liked to work, though.  She kept in touch with her college friends and at a party one evening met Alfred Mantini.  They hit it off and were married about a year later on April 16, 1955.  They had five children: Lisa, Janis, Michael, Daniel, and Matthew.

Their first house was on Raven Drive in Scott Township, but they soon out grew it and moved to a bigger house on Lindsey Road.  Agnes was a homemaker during this time but, when her oldest daughter Lisa was in high school, she went back to the University of Pittsburgh to complete coursework for a teaching credential.  After completing her certification, she started substitute teaching, sometimes at her children’s high school, in the business department. They moved for a short period of time to Syracuse New York, but that did not last long.  They loved Pittsburgh and moved back to Upper Saint Clair in 1977 and never left again. When they returned Agnes went looking for a job and became the bookkeeper for US Safety Trolley for a few years.  She then moved back into teaching with a position at ICM School of business in downtown Pittsburgh.  She really enjoyed her colleagues and her work as a teacher.  After a famous weather event her students started calling her “Hurricane Agnes,” which was a source of pride. She retired in the early 1990’s.  She survived breast cancer in her early sixties and was in remission for a couple of decades before it again reared its ugly head. Shortly after her recovery Alfred became sick with lung cancer and passed in 1993 after 38 years of marriage.

Agnes had a love for family and a life of adventure. She kept herself busy with her church, Our Lady of Grace (OLG), her friends, and her family.  At one point of time she was in a bowling league, two golf leagues, and three bridge groups.  She loved giving back to her community and had several favorite clubs.  She served as President and held other leadership roles with OLG Women’s Guild and the South Hills College Club.  She was a Lector at OLG for many years.

As her children married, ten grandchildren came into her life, and she treasured every one of them.  She had seven grandsons and three granddaughters, with one set of twins, just like her and her dear twin brother Jon.  She had a passion for family, and adventure.  She loved her trips: traveling to Japan to visit her son and grandsons, driving around Alaska in an RV with her daughter and family, hiking up waterfalls in Yosemite.  Agnes also vacationed with her children and grandchildren with trips to England, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, and Virgin Gorda in the Caribbean!

Agnes lived independently until very recently, when she downsized into Country Meadows.

Agnes was a lovely lady and carried herself with grace and dignity.  The burden, and sometimes challenge, of raising five children fell squarely upon her shoulders, but she never complained.  She just stayed positive and got things done. She was the glue that held her family together.  She was the force that kept all five of the headstrong Mantini children moving in the right direction.  Her stuffed cabbage rolls, nut rolls, and apple pie were the stuff of legends.  She loved to sew and quilt and her grandchildren all reaped the rewards of her many talents.  She made excellent Halloween Costumes too!

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