Toni Kathryn Manchester's Obituary
Toni K. Manchester, 41, Devoted Mother, Wife & Beloved Friend
Ft. Lauderdale – Toni was best known as someone who was always trying to help others. That is where she found her purpose. She always leveraged her abilities to be a source of inspiration as well as an amazing resource for information to others.
Over the past 26 months, a lot of that attention to help was focused on other people that shared her challenge in battling cancer. She fought Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and worked to help inspire hope and a positive outlook as they dealt with their diagnosis. She was a resource for Hope for Lymphoma and frequently talked with other patients to bring them the courage to keep moving forward.
Toni Kathryn Manchester died on September 1, at the Memorial Regional Hospital. Her battle is now over. In the end, she went peacefully, surrounded by family and friends that loved her dearly. She is now in God’s care.
Toni was born in Jersey City, NJ. She was blessed to have been raised by her incredible grandparents, Anthony and Millie Marchitto.
By the time she was 18, she was managing two fine men’s clothing stores in Manhatten and Jersey City.
She then moved to Florida and married Felix Perez. They had her first born son, Christopher Daniel Perez. Chris, now 22, had this to say about his mom:
“Mom is my life, she was my inspiration in everything that I did and still is to this day and will forever continue to be. She was my best friend and always gave me advice in what ever it was that I needed. She was the one who was always there for me through all my ups and downs and showed me the way. She touched many hearts and helped many people out in every way that she could. It seemed like she just always knew what to say. Mom truly made me the man that I am today. She taught me how to love unconditionally, help those in need and support a family. She was a warrior at heart and taught me true strength. She taught me how to live strong. Long talks, walks, shopping and hanging out with her boys is all she ever wanted and needed. All she ever wanted from us was to make her proud and continue our success in whatever it is that we are pursuing. And that’s what I’m going to do Mom. I will make you proud.”
She worked in Miami in the pediatrician’s office of Dr. Harry Arguero. There she learned the art of taking care of children from one of the best.
She then went to work at the Systems Consulting Group, Inc. (SCG) in Miami for several years. She quickly rose through the ranks from receptionist to Executive Administrator for the four Founding Partners of the firm.
She then left SCG with one of the founders as COO of a new venture Manchester Enterprises, Inc. There she was responsible for overseeing such projects as the award winning Latin Quarter Restaurant at CityWalk in Universal Studios and the sports brand management company, Big Cat, Inc. that developed a brand around Andres Galarraga, the all-star baseball player.
She then found a new love and marriage with Jeff Manchester. “Toni showed me that marriage and a relationship could be more than I could have ever dreamed it could be. She showed me what it means to be a true friend and if you were fortunate enough to be her friend, there were none better. She would do anything for the people she loved. She was an incredible mother and wife. Everything she did, she always asked the question, what’s best for the boys? What’s best for us? Our love was total and complete. I’m comforted in knowing that she KNEW she was loved. Not just by me, but by Chris, CJ and a beautiful loving cast of family and friends. She inspired me to be a better businessman, husband, father, and friend. She is the most amazing person I’ve ever known,” says her husband Jeff.
Together they built their family and added a beautiful little boy, Charles Jeffrey Louis “CJ” Manchester to join Christopher as their sons. As CJ, now 8 said, “My mommy is the best mommy in the whole world! I love you mommy! Your angel, CJ.”
Toni’s family and friends will make sure her memory lives on!
“And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love!”
I Corinthians 13:13 NIV
“Toni, I will always love you!”, Jeff.
Donations in honor of Toni K. Manchester can be made to:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in her memory.
www.lls.org
Memorial Services will be held to honor Toni on Wednesday, September 7, 7:00pm,
Rio Vista Community Church
880 South Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
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