Funeral services for Armondi R. "Mandy" Minietta will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel, Lawton, Oklahoma with Deacon Jim Cerrone, Holy Family Catholic Church and Chaplain (LTC) Brian M. Minietta, U.S. Army officiating.

Burial will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Mandy (Gaszak) Minietta, matriarch of the Minietta family, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, her big heart and resilient spirit carrying her every beat of the way.

Mandy was born in Wurzburg, Germany on August 6, 1947, to SSG Stanley A. Gaszak and Annalies Staudel.  She spent the first 12 years of her life in Germany and then moved to the United States in 1958, residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She returned to Germany, graduating from the Nuremburg American High School in 1965.

She moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and met the love of her life, Gene Minietta, on a blind date, even though he wasn't her date.  He was with the other gal, her best friend.  It was love at first sight and four months later, on January 26, 1966, they were married in the Post Chapel at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  She accompanied Gene on his assignment at Fort Sill, enduring Gene's first tour to Vietnam.  But, before he left, they had their first bundle of Joy, Michele, in 1966.  Then this young family PCS'd to Ansbach, Germany, and their second bundle of joy, Geno, came along in 1968.  Mandy, along with her two young children, endured another Vietnam deployment. Then, this family of four returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  After that, the Army moved Mandy and her family to Fort Jackson, South Carolina where her third bundle of joy, Brian, was born in 1973.  After serving in South Carolina, the family returned to Lawton where Mandy has resided ever since.

In 1980, Mandy completed a course of study in practical nursing at Great Plains Area Vocational-Technical School.  She worked as a nurse for 22 years, serving at Southwestern Hospital, in private practice, and finally at the AM PM Clinic. She spent over 10 years there at the clinic and thoroughly enjoyed serving and taking care of others.  Compassion and empathy naturally emanated from Mandy; therefore, nursing was definitely her vocation, not just her job.

That same compassion and empathy extended to her family.  Her physical heart ultimately gave out, but maybe only because her spiritual heart was working overtime.  Each member of the Minietta family knew they were cherished and loved.  After raising their own children, Mandy and Gene stepped up and raised their first three grandchildren.  While raising these children, Mandy and Gene were blessed with four more grandchildren, and then eight more great grandchildren.  All these kids were the focus of her life and her home became party-central for birthdays, holidays, and everything in between.  It was a special place you could go to be reminded you were loved…no matter what.

It has been said, "It is better to give than receive." Mandy internalized this truth and lived it.  The closets of her house were filled with toys and gifts, she would even shop for the friends of her kids.  Mandy always had a smile on her face, and she never withheld a hug.  She would give you the shirt off her back.  She enjoyed horror movies, crime shows, Lifetime and Hallmark, and you better believe a can of cold Coca Cola was in her hand.  She also loved to read, a good Entenmann's doughnut, and a New York bagel.

Mandy was resilient.  She was a fighter.  She was courageous, which comes from the Latin root "cor," which means heart.   She had a big heart!  She lived a long life of love, devotion, and perseverance.  She collected angels and, in our eyes and hearts, we know she lived up to her collection.  Gene was so blessed to call her his bride for 58 years and the family was blessed to call her mom, grandma, great-grandma, and Oma.  You always knew where you stood with Mandy…you were loved.  Mandy, we want you to know you were loved, admired, and cherished and you will be missed.

Mandy is survived by her husband, Eugene D. Minietta; one daughter, Michele Minietta and spouse, Andrea; son, Brian M. Minietta and spouse, Patti; eight grandchildren, Stefan Minietta, Trenton Minietta and spouse, Savanna, Kelsey Lizarraga and spouse, Alex, Sarah Zerbest, Meghan Zerbest-Duschel and spouse, Tyler, Tristan Minietta, Madison Minietta and David Knaus and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Geno Minietta and one granddaughter, Emily Zerbest.