Emanuel Finazzo

Emanuel (Manny) Joseph Finazzo, age 85, of Fontana, California passed away on October 15, 2022, surrounded by family and close friends.
Manny was born August 27, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri. He came to California as a child, joining the growing network of Italian families drawn by employment and kinship to the Inland Empire.
A proud member of the first graduating class of Fontana High School in 1955, Manny found employment at Kaiser Steel. He soon enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving actively from February 4, 1957 to February 17, 1959. He concluded his reserve commitment on February 3, 1963, having returned to what became rewarding employment with Kaiser Steel. He attended college, earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Industrial Management and gaining skills he demonstrated in future assignments in the industry. After Kaiser closed in 1983, Manny worked for Oregon Steel and California Steel Industries. He retired in 2000, following a total of 39 years of service to the steel industry.
Manny met the love of his life, Veta (deceased 2016), in 1959, and they married in 1961. Manny is survived by his three children, Deborah Corcoran (Paul), Frank Finazzo (Frances), and Maria Finazzo-Labahn (Peter), six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, his brothers Frank Finazzo, Sr. (Frances, deceased 2022), Anthony Finazzo (Marie), his sister Frances (Finazzo) Sclafani (Frank), and many nieces, nephews and relatives ranging from Fontana, California to Cinisi, Sicily including his Aunt Vincenza Manzella.
Manny loved sports, especially baseball. He took his passion to the baseball field where he coached his brother-in-law, cousins and son in the Police and Elks Little Leagues. For three years, he also coached his daughter’s team in the Fontana girls' softball league.
Manny was a charter member of the Sons of Italy Joanna Coccia Lodge #2553, where he served as Trustee, Vice President, and President for four and a half terms. Manny also served as a Trustee for the Grand Lodge of California South, and subsequently as Grand Lodge Orator. He reveled in his Sicilian relations and heritage. Manny was also active for many years in the Knights of Columbus and Fontana Breakfast Lions Club (President 1988) where he received The Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 1990.
Manny was a gregarious, generous, yet humble man, who took unending pleasure in family and friends.
Visitation will be November 3, 2022 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at Ingold Funeral & Cremation, 8277 Juniper Avenue, Fontana. Funeral services will be November 4, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 17080 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana. Services will be followed immediately by interment at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1240 “G” St., Ontario. A reception for family and friends will commence from 2:30 until 6:30 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn, 10543 Sierra Ave., Fontana.
In lieu of flowers, tax deductible memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the Emanuel and Veta Finazzo Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks to the latter should be payable to “Sons and Daughters of Italy in America #2553,” and must identify the E and V Finazzo Memorial Scholarship Fund in the memo line. They may be mailed to Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, C/O Paul Finazzo, 8888 Tamarind Ave, Fontana, CA 92335.
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