Edna J. Mangini, ne Pacino, passed away peacefully at home in Redwood City, CA on August
23, 2021, after a short illness just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday. Born in Los Angeles to
parents who emigrated from Liguria and Sicily, Italy, she grew up with her older sister, Mary, in
a vibrant community of Italian-Americans and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in the
Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. As a young woman, Edna put her sharp mind to
work in a bank.
While visiting her cousin, Alma Bacigalupi in San Francisco, another cousin, John Roselli,
introduced her to his partner in their pharmacy business, Nat (Natale) Mangini. Edna and Nat
were married in 1943 shortly before he was deployed to the European front in World War II.
After his return, they built a life together in Redwood City, raising two sons, Michael and
Richard, while operating several locations of Lock Drug Co., a community pharmacy complete
with soda fountains and hair salons as was customary in the 1950s. While managing the family
home, Edna was very active in local volunteer work through Mount Carmel Catholic Church,
Bellarmine College Preparatory School, and Sequoia Hospital. After her children were grown,
she played a significant role in running Lock Drug Co. as bookkeeper, product buyer, and
human resources manager. She and Nat retired in 1996 and Nat passed away in 1997. They
were married for 53 years.
Although she never sought the spotlight, Edna was the recognized matriarch of the Mangini
family, making sure that everyone had what they needed to succeed in life while inspiring them
with her business acumen, sense of style, and lifelong love of learning. Her home and garden
were central to family gatherings, especially for the incredible meals she created there. No
matter when someone showed up at her house, Edna would find a way to feed them
something delicious, served with inimitable flair and attention to detail. Beyond her magical
talents in the kitchen, Edna was wonderful company. She was incredibly intelligent and witty,
with a sharp, dry sense of humor. There was always a twinkle in her pale blue eyes which
reflected the somewhat mischievous little sister she was said to have been. In her later years,
she was a fun grandmother and great-grandmother.
Edna is survived by her two sons, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, all of
whom miss her already.
For those who wish to mark her passage during the challenges presented by COVID today, a
visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 14th, 2021, from 2-6 pm at Crippen and Flynn
Woodside Chapel, 400 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA. Masks will be required and visitors
are asked to maintain social distance as much as possible. A private funeral mass for family
members only will be held on September 15th 2021 at St. Pius Catholic Church in Redwood
City.
The family asks that, in lieu of attendance or flowers, donations in her memory can be made to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), UNICEF (www.unicef.org), or a charity
of your choice.