Raymond "Crunch" Carangio

Raymond “Crunch” Carangio passed away on February 9th, 2025, he was 80 years old. Born in Manchester, VT on July, 7th, 1944. He attended Burr and Burton and was a member of the football team throughout his high school career and voted biggest flirt, a story he always enjoyed sharing.

He was a veteran of the Navy serving on the USS America and participated in its shakedown cruise preparing the ship for active duty.  When he was discharged he returned to Manchester and founded his career as an "unconsumed products engineer". A self made man he owned and operated his refuse business for 40 years before retiring. Unable to sit idle in retirement, he took meticulous care of his lawn and plantings and made lamps and clocks for friends and family. He was always proud to see people enjoying the things he made for them.

A fixture at several local watering holes past and present he always had great stories to tell about the Taco House, Five Flies and the like, don't worry we won't repeat them here. A lifelong resident of Manchester, he was very active in his town and community.  He enjoyed organizing caroling to the community for a number of years putting together a lighted float full of merry carolers to sing around town, especially to the local senior center.  He was also instrumental in organizing Green Up Day at the VFW for a number of years. He was also a founding member of the now disbanded Manchester Yacht Club and could be seen tubing down the Battenkill in full Uncle Sam regalia. A member of the VFW he enjoyed spending time there and helping contribute with the greenery of the club. He loved westerns, his hunting camp and time shared there with friends, riding his Harley Davidson, his Model T and MG, and all the laughs and memories he shared with friends and family.  He enjoyed with friends playing games and sharing laughs, watching westerns and playing catcher on his 70’s softball team.

He was predeceased by his mother Effie Matteson Russell, sister Anna Mae “Chip” Russell, and brothers Dominick Carangio, Barry Best, and Fred Quinn, nephew Paul Bacon, and brother in law Edward Bacon Sr. Survived by his daughter Rayleen Carangio, sisters Dale Bacon (Ed), Dona Hoard (Tom), Pam McElleven (Mark), and many nieces and nephews and very close life long friends. Graveside funeral services for Crunch will be held in Ira Allen Cemetery in the spring. . Visiting hours will be held at Brewster-Shea Funeral Service 34 Park Place Manchester Center, VT on Wednesday February 19, 2025 from 3-6PM when the family will be in attendance. Please join us for a celebration of life on Crunch’s birthday July 7th, 2025. If friends desire, memorial gifts in Crunch's memory may be made to the Vermont Veterans Home and Second Chance Animal Shelter (in honor of his beloved granddog Lucy), c/o Brewster-Shea Funeral Service P.O. Box 885 Manchester Center, VT 05255. To send the family personal condolences please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Brewster- Shea Funeral Home 34 Park Place Manchester Center, VT.