Javier Almanza

Javier Almanza, 61, of Harrisburg, passed away suddenly on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at his residence. Born in Chicago, IL on July 26, 1960, he was the son of the late Manuel Ruiz Almanza and Mariana (Maria) Aviles Mendez.

Javier lived his life constantly thinking of others, and he cherished the time spent with his wife and best friend, Linda. He was the chef of the household, and no cuisine was off limits. Whether it was Italian, Mexican, Asian, or something in between, he reveled in trying new recipes and making things from scratch. He and Linda met each other while at church, and the two didn’t take long to tie the knot. Married in 1995, they would enjoy seeing WWII and Civil War reenactments, playing miniature golf, and snuggling with their seven kitties. He could make conversation easily, and his interest in helping others made him a perfect fit at the Hamilton Health Center, where he was part of the outreach team. Some days consisted of him striking up conversation with people who passed on the street, or even patrons at local bars, primarily about the risks of STDs. More formally, he would visit schools and halfway homes to give presentations on those topics. He worked in this capacity for more than ten years before health problems forced him to step away. The gun range was a good way to spend an afternoon, and he loved visiting family – both in Chicago and Puerto Rico. He was a man of faith, and he and Linda would attend several churches in Harrisburg throughout the years. He could be serious, when necessary, but he was always trying to make those around him laugh. Not only a talented chef, he was handy and fixed everything. He essentially remodeled the entire house; and if he didn’t know how to fix something, he would research the problem and figure it out. Suffering from severe Rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative disc disease for many years, his family finds comfort in knowing that he is no longer in pain.

Surviving Javier is his wife of 26 years, Linda S. Almanza (Gonzalez); sisters Gladys Colon and Norma Bandomo (Nelson Marty) of Puerto Rico, Annette Almanza of AZ and Emanuela Rios of Houston, TX; brothers Manuel Jr. and Ralph Almanza of Chicago, IL and Miguel Angel Almanza of Houston, TX; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was also loved by his stepsiblings in Texas. In addition to his parents (who should be credited for his culinary talents), he was preceded in death by two brothers, Antonio and Jose Colon, both of Puerto Rico.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, New Cumberland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution towards Javier’s funeral expenses. You may drop off or send payment to the funeral home, or you may use the “contact us” feature on their website to request more information. The mailing address is: Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box 431, New Cumberland, PA 17070.