Hundreds turn out to say goodbye to slain Addison family

Hundreds gathered Tuesday in an Addison church to lament the loss of a local family to violence.

As many as 600 mourners, including many children, filled St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church to celebrate the Mangiantini family. All of them.

Amid the tears, those touched by Thomas, 48; Elizabeth, 46; and their sons Angelo, 12, and 8-year-old Tommy, focused on how they lived rather than their tragic end.

The family died the morning before Thanksgiving Day after Thomas Mangiantini fatally shot his wife and sleeping children in their Addison home, before turning the gun on himself. He left behind a note detailing his Nov. 25 murder-suicide plan, but police have not disclosed its contents.

The solemn service was filled with words of love and faith. Mourners offered comfort to the relatives left behind to cope with unimaginable loss.

But in moments of amazing strength and grace, the slain woman's parents and siblings embraced Thomas's family and spoke with love of the man they knew him to be since the couple married in 1991.

James and Helen Jakubosky, who raised Elizabeth and her two younger siblings in Addison, didn't forget their daughter's husband as they sprinkled holy water on each casket during an emotional final blessing.

"I love you," a weeping Helen Jakubosky repeated as she visited each casket.

The couple exchanged signs of peace with Gene Mangiantini, who buried his oldest son and wife, Patricia Ann, less than five years apart. His other children, Michael and Judith Mangiantini, were at his side.

Angela and Jim Jakubosky Jr. recalled their sister, who insisted on being called "Betts," and thanked mourners for their support. Jim said it has helped sustain them this past week.

"I just want to ask one more small favor," he said. "Please pray for our family and continue to give us the strength that we receive through God."

Added Angela: "There was no better big sister."

Earlier in the service, pallbearers brought in each of the bronze caskets to encircle a large Christmas wreath and arrangements of white calla lilies and red roses. "Amazing Grace" rang out as the final coffin, carrying the youngest child's body, made its way to the front of the packed church.

Grown men wept. Parents hugged their children tight. Teachers, classmates, neighbors, police officers, church members and even strangers prayed, sang and held hands.

The Rev. Mark Jendrysik had the difficult task of finding the right words at such a painful time. His homily brought tears and, at times, some needed laughter. He did not try to explain the unexplainable.

"We have many questions," Jendrysik said. "Why are they no longer with us? Why did this happen? We don't have answers to these questions. But, this morning, I ask you one other question. Why did they live? Their lives were a gift for us to enjoy for the time we had them here on Earth."

The youngest, Tommy, a second-grader, was remembered as a bundle of energy with a smile that could melt a heart and light up a room. His big brother, Angelo, a sixth-grader, had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and would debate like the most seasoned of politicians. His jolly laugh made Angelo a perfect fit for the role of Santa Claus last year in church.

Elizabeth Mangiantini was known for her devotion to family and ability to give of herself no matter how great the sacrifice. Her husband, Thomas, was described as a fair-minded coach who looked out for each child on his team and was the first one to help others in a crisis.

"Why did they live?" Jendrysik concluded. "So that we could enjoy them and love them, as they loved us. On this day, we who remain have one last thing to do. We have to take (the family) into our hearts and we have to embrace them, and love them and say goodbye. Goodbye on your own terms and in your own way for as long as it takes.

"The gifts that were given to us are physically no longer with us, but they will be in our minds and in our hearts and a part of who we are and what we do each and every day of our lives.

"Tom, Betts, Angelo and Tommy - welcome home."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=340549">School district responds to death of Addison children<span class="date">[11/30/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=340312">Funeral arrangements set for Addison family <span class="date">[11/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=340178">Addison police say motive for slayings may never be known <span class="date">[11/27/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=340037">Addison tragedy a murder-suicide, coroner says <span class="date">[11/26/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=339733">Cops search for answers behind Addison family tragedy<span class="date">[11/26/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <!-- Start of Brightcove Player --> <div style="display:none"> </div> <!-- By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C found at http://corp.brightcove.com/legal/terms_publisher.cfm. --> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <object id="myExperience52626082001" class="BrightcoveExperience"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="width" value="300" /> <param name="height" value="255" /> <param name="playerID" value="18011347001" /> <param name="publisherID" value="1659832549"/> <param name="isVid" value="true" /> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="52626082001" /> </object> <!-- End of Brightcove Player -->