2023ObituariesDonna Tidwell Manalli

August 10, 1964 ~ August 19, 2023

Donna Tidwell Manalli passed away at “The Crossing” Clarity Hospice in Baton Rouge, LA at 11:55am, August 19, 2023 at the age of 59 after over a two- and one-half-year battle with Ovarian Cancer.  Donna was born in Clinton, LA on August 10, 1964.  She graduated from Doyle High School in Livingston, LA in 1982, where she was cheerleader.  Prior to high school, she competed in gymnastics which she started at a young age and was naturally gifted.  She competed at a very high level, winning many individual events as well as all-around titles in Louisiana.  She was still performing back-flips into her late 30’s.

In ~1972, Donna moved to Livingston and lived with her cousin whom she always referred to as “Aunt”, Debbie Duffy and her husband Duke.  She was raised along with their two children Danny Paul and Danita.  The Duffy’s raised her as their own and were very supportive of her desire to be in dance, beauty pageants, gymnastics and cheerleading.  She loved the Duffy’s so much and worried and prayed for Debbie as she too has been fighting cancer.

Donna married Robert Jon Manalli in July of 2003 where she gained a 4 yr. old step son, Levi.  They had met online and both were not interested in getting married, again.  God had other plans and the two recently celebrated 20 years of marriage.  She was such a wonderful wife, mother to all four children, and made them all feel like they were loved unconditionally.   They did not have any children together during their marriage, but they enjoyed spending time with the children / grandchildren and traveling.  She loved to work in the yard especially with her plants and flowers.  She was working as a construction site office manager, when they met.  She took some time off while Robert worked overseas, but soon after she started bar tending at the “Last Call”.  She bartended for over 10 years and made many lasting friends who she always stayed close to even after she no longer bartended.  She finally went on to paint house interiors, which was probably her favorite job.  She continued painting until not long after she was diagnosed with stage IV Ovarian Cancer in December of 2020 but mentioned it so many times that she wishes she could still paint.

Donna and Robert moved to the Diversion Canal in March of 2017 and met several friends that made a lasting impression on her life.  She started to attend Mass at St. Joseph Church with her husband and friends from next door.  In early 2018, she decided to convert to Catholicism based on the discussions that she had with Peggy Loehn.  Peggy passed just before Donna began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) classes.  Another neighbor friend Vicki Brown became her sponsor and was a support as Donna completed her initiation prior to Easter celebrations.  She was baptized on April 20, 2019 and it was one of the most special moments of her life.  Later that year Donna and Robert went on a pilgrimage of eucharistic miracles in Italy.  This trip was a spiritual awakening for them both and helped to give them strength during the battles to come.

Donna was an amazing woman, wife, grandmother and spouse.  She was the strongest person that I have ever known and it was because of her spirit that she was able to stay with us for the time that she did during her surgery and then chemo and radiation treatments.  She would always do everything she could to live everyday to it’s fullest.  She was a friend to everyone she met and made everyone feel special.  She enjoyed cooking and was skilled at making most any dish.  She made so many wonderful desserts and they were always a crowd pleaser and asked for by family and neighbors. She learned to make the Manalli Family sauce and meatballs, which recently she oversaw Robert and Levi make their first batches of the wonderful sauce “Sugu”.  She told us that we now have to help whomever else wanted to learn.  She wishes to extend special thanks to Robert’s sister, Angie Holdcroft (Manalli) for coming down to Louisiana to help once Hospice was called into the home until she passed at “The Crossing” Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Donna is survived by her husband Robert Manalli; her children, Alvin Tyren Fairburn, Cody Mish Fairburn, Jessica Fairburn Carlin (Kaleb), her step son Levi Manalli; grandchildren, Conner Fairburn, Cassius Fairburn, Theodore Carlin and Evangeline Carlin; brother, Kenneth Tidwell (Vanda); her “very special” Aunt Bernice Cade; and “very special” cousins “Aunt” Debbie Duffy, Danita Duffy and Danny Paul Duffy.

She is proceeded by her father Charles “Cleve” Tidwell; her mother Mary Jean Pilgrim; her brother Roger “Cooney” Tidwell; her grandfather Lonnie Tidwell; her grandmother Annie Tidwell; and very special cousin “Uncle Duke” Danny Duffy.

Donna and family have requested that they would prefer no cut flowers.  Potted plants / flowers or angel statues are preferred.

Family extends special thanks to D Constance Cole Bluuun. Staff as Woman’s Hospital Infusion Lab, the staff at Bridgeway Hospice and “The Crossing” Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge.

If you would like to make a donation, please send them to:  www.geauxteal.com/donate

Schedule of services:

Seale funeral home in Livingston on Hwy. 63 on Friday the 25th of August from 5-8 pm at the Funeral Home for the visitation.

St Joseph Church in French Settlement on Hwy. 16 on Saturday the 26^th of August with visitation starting at 8am with the Mass service at 10am to follow.  A reception to follow at the Church.