Marlene Manning
Grafton | Save
Marlene (Tungett) Manning passed away on October 21, 2026, at the age of 90. Born on November 18, 1935, in Alton, Illinois, to Clarence and Ethel (Dunbar) Tungett, she lived a life rooted in faith, filled with love, and defined by a strength that inspired everyone who knew her. A devoted mother and grandmother, Marlene leaves her family with more than cherished memories. She leaves them an enduring example of how to meet life with courage, determination, and a sense of humor.
Marlene’s love for the Lord was at the heart of her life. A dedicated member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grafton, Illinois, she devoted her life to God and held her church close to her heart. Her faith was a source of strength through life’s challenges and an essential part of the example she set for her family. Her devotion to God and her deep love for those around her will remain among the most treasured parts of her legacy.
Above all, Marlene will be remembered for her strong will and fierce independence. She met challenges with grace, but also with a determination that refused to give up. Through hard work and perseverance, she showed her family that even the hardest times could be faced and that no problem was beyond their ability to work through. She did not simply tell them to be strong; she showed them what strength looked like. Her example gave those she loved the courage to keep going, to trust themselves, and to believe they could overcome whatever stood before them.
That strength was matched by a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor. Marlene understood that life was not meant to be taken too seriously and that it could never be fully enjoyed without finding the humor in it. She reminded her family that being strong did not mean forgetting how to laugh. Her humor brought joy to those around her and will be remembered with the same affection as her determination.
Marlene retired from Illinois Bell after 35 years of service. She loved Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey, but her greatest love was her family. As a mother and grandmother, she loved them dearly, and the lessons she taught through her own life will continue to guide them for generations. Her many nieces and nephews also held a special place in her heart and were a cherished part of the family that meant so much to her.
Marlene is survived by her son, Scot Manning, and his wife, Zdenka; her daughter, Melissa (Manning) McKenna, and her husband, Michael. She also leaves her grandchildren, Alice (McKenna) Gray and her husband, Aaron, Michael P. McKenna, Timothy Manning; Albert Chytil, and his wife, Kamila; her great-grandchildren, Mason Gray, Wyatt Gray, Morgan Gray, Adrian Chytil and Alex Chytil.
She is also survived by her sister, JoAnn Cassidy, and her husband, Jim; brother Alan Tungett and his wife Debbie; brother Dwight Tungett and his wife Laura; and many nieces and nephews whom she cherished.
Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Manning; her parents, Clarence and Ethel (Dunbar) Tungett; her sister, Betty Lewis; and a brother, Gene Tungett.
A Funeral Mass celebrating Marlene’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grafton, Illinois, with burial to follow at Scenic Hill Cemetery in Grafton, Illinois.
Marlene’s family will carry her love with them always, in the strength they find during difficult days, in the determination to keep trying, and in the laughter that reminds them to enjoy life along the way. Her fierce independence, steadfast faith, and loving heart will never be forgotten. The example she set will live on in every generation of the family she loved so dearly.
Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grafton, Illinois, in care of Crawford Funeral Home,1308 State Highway 109, Jerseyville, IL 62052, who has been entrusted with arrangements.
Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com.
Crawford Funeral Home
