1920
Anthony
2013
Anthony (Tony) Patrick Messina, Sr.
March 17, 1920 — January 29, 2013
Anthony (Tony) Patrick Messina, Sr., born March 17, 1920, in Monroe, Louisiana, and a resident of Monroe for most of his life, passed away at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, under hospice care, Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at the age of 92. Tony, the sixth of eleven children of Giuseppe Messina and Antonia Lusca Messina, both of Cefalu, Sicily, was predeceased by his parents and his loving wife of 70 years, Martha Ray Messina. He is survived by his three children, Suzzanne Allen and her husband Danny of Houston, TX; Cindy Brewer of Virginia Beach, VA; and Anthony P. Messina, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Monroe. LA; his seven grandchildren, Jacqueline Allen-Wilson, Mark Allen, Richard Allen, John Allen, Mason Haneline, Mary Amanda Messina, and Catherine Pauline Messina Myers; his four great grandchildren, Connor Christian Bagwell, Samuel Patrick Matson, Pyron McKenzie Meyers and Nellie Cooper Meyers; his sister, Rose Messina Ditta; his brother, Carey Messina; and many nieces and nephews.
Tony graduated from Neville High School in Monroe. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1940 and served in the 533rd Squadron 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) until July 5, 1945. During his enlistment, he served at Selman Field at Monroe; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; England; and at Mons and Brussels, Belgium. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He married Martha Ray Messina on December 12, 1942, prior to his military deployment to Europe. Following World War II and release from active duty, he worked for the War Department, the National Research Laboratory, at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
He returned to Monroe, Louisiana in the early 1950s and built and managed Monroe Frozen Foods, Inc. where he served as president of the company for over fifty years. He was an active member of the community and worked tirelessly with municipalities, the Chambers of Commerce, and many civic and charitable organizations to help North Louisiana citizens.
Tony was a dynamic member of the group of Monroe Catholics who helped raise funds and gain support to build Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He was a charter member of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. He was also a member of the Monroe Knights of Columbus and served as a Grand Knight.
Tony was a self-made man who was open to new ideas, inventions, and trends and who was always eager to learn. He had a zest for life and for helping other people. He taught his children and grandchildren to learn from history; to be open-minded and accept other people and their ideas; to strive to win, but to let the other guy win too; and to always stay interested in people because people enrich our lives. He taught us that we can learn from everyone, regardless of their station in life and that we must always treat everyone with respect. He taught us to choose a profession that we could respect and to respect that profession by being the best that we could be and offering our efforts to God. He taught us to be our own person and to never allow negative comments to guide us, but rather, to seek guidance from God. He taught us that if we want to get ahead, we have to work hard and to do what is right. Most of all, he taught us, by his example, to be kind and gentle to everyone, especially the elderly.
The family wishes to thank all of the kind caregivers at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, the medical personnel at St. Francis’ Medical Center, and Hospice First Choice, with a very special thanks to his personal caregivers, Emoline Brass and Sharon Mathis.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family for visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, at Mulhearn Funeral Home located at 2308 Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 8, at 10 a.m. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 900 Good Shepherd Lane, Monroe, where Father David Richter will officiate. The internment at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery on Hwy 80 will follow.
Pallbearers will be Mason Haneline, Mark Allen, Dan Allen, Tony Bruscato, Ernest Breard, and Warren Vaughn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Tony Messina’s name. The address is 6700 Highway 165 North, Monroe, Louisiana, 71203.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Visitation
5-7PM Thursday, February 7, 2013
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road, Monroe
Services
10AM Friday, February 8, 2013
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church
Monroe, LA
Interment
Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery
Monroe, LA
Tony graduated from Neville High School in Monroe. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1940 and served in the 533rd Squadron 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) until July 5, 1945. During his enlistment, he served at Selman Field at Monroe; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; England; and at Mons and Brussels, Belgium. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He married Martha Ray Messina on December 12, 1942, prior to his military deployment to Europe. Following World War II and release from active duty, he worked for the War Department, the National Research Laboratory, at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
He returned to Monroe, Louisiana in the early 1950s and built and managed Monroe Frozen Foods, Inc. where he served as president of the company for over fifty years. He was an active member of the community and worked tirelessly with municipalities, the Chambers of Commerce, and many civic and charitable organizations to help North Louisiana citizens.
Tony was a dynamic member of the group of Monroe Catholics who helped raise funds and gain support to build Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He was a charter member of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. He was also a member of the Monroe Knights of Columbus and served as a Grand Knight.
Tony was a self-made man who was open to new ideas, inventions, and trends and who was always eager to learn. He had a zest for life and for helping other people. He taught his children and grandchildren to learn from history; to be open-minded and accept other people and their ideas; to strive to win, but to let the other guy win too; and to always stay interested in people because people enrich our lives. He taught us that we can learn from everyone, regardless of their station in life and that we must always treat everyone with respect. He taught us to choose a profession that we could respect and to respect that profession by being the best that we could be and offering our efforts to God. He taught us to be our own person and to never allow negative comments to guide us, but rather, to seek guidance from God. He taught us that if we want to get ahead, we have to work hard and to do what is right. Most of all, he taught us, by his example, to be kind and gentle to everyone, especially the elderly.
The family wishes to thank all of the kind caregivers at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, the medical personnel at St. Francis’ Medical Center, and Hospice First Choice, with a very special thanks to his personal caregivers, Emoline Brass and Sharon Mathis.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family for visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, at Mulhearn Funeral Home located at 2308 Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 8, at 10 a.m. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 900 Good Shepherd Lane, Monroe, where Father David Richter will officiate. The internment at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery on Hwy 80 will follow.
Pallbearers will be Mason Haneline, Mark Allen, Dan Allen, Tony Bruscato, Ernest Breard, and Warren Vaughn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Tony Messina’s name. The address is 6700 Highway 165 North, Monroe, Louisiana, 71203.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Visitation
5-7PM Thursday, February 7, 2013
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road, Monroe
Services
10AM Friday, February 8, 2013
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church
Monroe, LA
Interment
Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery
Monroe, LA
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