Emmanouel Tsardoulias, age 75 years, a fifty-plus year resident of Lambertville, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset, Somerville, NJ.

Known by many names—E.T., Manny, Mike the Greek, Pop—Emmanouel was born in Samos, Greece; and that’s one thing he was very proud of…being Greek! He always had his stories about back in the old country, and made sure to tell all the kids and grandkids to ensure that they knew where the family came from and to always be proud of being Greek. Along with those stories, would be tales and knowledge about how almost everything came from Greece. Almost any word or invention, he would tell us it came from the Greeks.

He came to America when he was 19 and that’s when he met his wife, Carolyn. They went on to have 3 daughters which in turn led to many grandchildren and great grandchildren. His favorite things to do with the family was spend time at Ocean City Beach, Ocean City, NJ, and he loved to take the kids and grandchildren fishing. He also loved gardening and hanging the Christmas lights on the porch with the kids and grandkids.

When it came to family traditions, going to Greek Festivals anywhere he could find one was one of Emmanouel’s favorite things as he could show the next generations first-hand what it meant to be Greek! On Easter and Christmas, he would always bring at least some of the grandkids to church with him to remind them how important faith should be in their lives. He truly was an amazing father, grandfather (Papou) and great grandfather, and made sure to tell everyone how proud he was to be a Papou to so many.

He was known for many catch phrases, one of his favorites being, “Tough times don’t last, tough people do!” He was very well-known and loved in the community of Lambertville where he and carolyn raised their family. No matter where he went around town, he always knew someone or knew how to strike up a conversation with a stranger who by the end, would become a friend. Anyone that knew him, knew one of his biggest topics of conversation would be politics but at the end of the day, no matter one’s political stance, Emmanouel simply tried to lend people a helping hand however he was able.

Emmanouel’s wife, Carolyn, passed away in May 2023.

Surviving are his 3 daughters, Eva and her husband, Edwin Madrigal, Niki Tsardoulias and Maria Tsardoulias and her significant other, Bill McBride; his 8 grandchildren, Nicholas, Jessica, Alexis and her husband, Brayan, Cristian, Angelina, Victoria, Andy and Gabriel; his great grandchildren, Sophi, Lilly, Donna and Carlitos; his brother, John Tsardoulias and his wife, Evanthia and their three daughters, Evangelia, Niki, and Diamonto; several extended family members in the United States as well as in Greece where he leaves one sister and many other family members; and many dear friends, especially in Lambertville, NJ, and the Manchester Road neighborhood in Flemington, NJ.

Emmanouel will lie in repose on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 10:30-11:00 a.m. at St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, NJ, 08822.

The Funeral Service officiated by Fr. James Pavlow will follow the gathering beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the church, and to which all are welcome.

Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, South Franklin Street, Lambertville, NJ, and again, all are welcome and encouraged to join in bringing Emmanouel to his final physical place of rest.

You are encouraged to visit Emmanouel’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions to assist in allowing him to be properly buried may be made via a GoFundMe online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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