Tanny Goffredo

October 11, 1944 - January 26, 2021

Tanny (Mario) Goffredo Bonita Springs - Tanny (Mario) Goffredo of Bonita Springs, FL, passed away surrounded by family January 26, 2021, at NCH Baker Hospital in Naples, FL after a long battle with cancer. She was 76. Born October 11, 1944, in Passaic, New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late Jerry and Edith (Meijer) Mario, who emigrated to the United States from Italy and the Netherlands respectively, and met and married in their adopted homeland. The family, including elder brother Ernest Mario, lived for many years in Clifton, NJ, where Tanny attended public schools. A talented singer, Tanny was first soprano for the New Jersey All-State Chorus for two years before graduating from Clifton High School in 1962. Tanny graduated from the Hackensack (NJ) Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse in 1966. She worked as a nurse in a variety of settings, including hospitals and even a department store as the nurse on staff before her children were born: Andrew in 1970, and Christine in 1973. Tanny lived in Norwalk, CT, from 1972 to 1988. After her children were in school, she worked as a realtor and at Elmer's Liquor Store in Wilton, CT, where she developed an encyclopedic knowledge of fine wines, nearly entirely self-taught. After her divorce from her first husband in 1987, Tanny was introduced to R. Michael Goffredo, a business associate of her brother Ernest. Tanny and Mike married at Ernest and his wife Millie's home in Princeton, NJ in 1988. Tanny and Mike resided in nearby Lawrenceville and Pennington, NJ, until Mike's death in 2014. In 2016, Tanny moved to Bonita Springs. Tanny's optimism and enthusiasm for life charmed all who knew her. She expected - and usually got - the best from everyone she met. She loved making people laugh. Her ability to tell entertaining stories and jokes—always using appropriate accents, gestures, and facial expressions—was unsurpassed, making her a favorite at parties and family events. A lifelong member of the New Apostolic Church, she served as soloist, choir member, and choir director, although as she liked to point out, over time she went from soprano to tenor. Singing was one of her great passions. Tanny is survived by her brother, Ernest Mario of Key West, FL; a son, Andrew Mandel of Davidson, NC, his wife Laurie (Soehnel) Mandel and their daughters Elizabeth Grace Mandel and Ella Catherine Mandel; and a daughter, Christine (Mandel) Bement of Fort Myers, FL, and her children Hunter Alexander Bement and Emma Elizabeth Bement. A celebration of Tanny's life will be held at 11 am, Saturday, February 13, at the New Apostolic Church, 10331 Deer Run Farms Road, Fort Myers, FL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the youth group at Tanny's church, the NAC Youth Development Fund LLC, 11451 Riverstone Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33913.