Chalmette resident Josephine Carderara, left, signs over a donation of $400,000 from the estate of her cousin, the late Joan Elizabeth Manzella of Chalmette, to St. Bernard Parish Government Animal Services Department. Animal Services Director Beth Brewster and Parish President Craig Taffaro are shown with Carderara right after the donation papers were signed.

The late Joan Elizabeth Manzella who, spent most of her life in Chalmette, left her entire estate – more than $400,000 to the St. Bernard Parish Animal Services Department.  St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro and  Animal Services Director Beth Brewster met with attorney Al Perry and Manzella’s cousin, Josephine Carderera, to sign the papers and accept the donation.

 “Her dedication and love of animals and the Animal Shelter has resulted in a donation of over $400,000 to the animal shelter which will go a long way to helping with some capital improvements,”  Taffaro said. “We are so grateful to Ms. Manzella for her generosity and for her love of animals.”

 “That was her wish, for all of it to go to the Animal Shelter,” Carderara said. “She loved poodles all her life.”
 “Ms. Manzella’s overwhelming generosity will literally save lives,” said Beth Brewster. “As a true advocate for animals, Ms. Manzella’s legacy will be remembered in each pet we place in a new home. Not only will it benefit hundreds of unwanted, homeless, and abandoned animals in our parish, Ms. Manzella’s generous gift will enable the St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter to build a play area for our cats. If our animals could speak, you would hear a chorus of thank you’s. Ms. Manzella is truly an advocate for the voiceless, and this gift will benefit the hundreds of animals we care for annually.”