Barbara Rose Messana

Barbara Rose Messana was born on February 29, 1932, at home in Blue Island, Illinois to Nicholas and Eunice Voss. The youngest of five children, she graduated from Blue Island Community High School in 1950. Barbara was raised Protestant and was baptized at Orchard St. Christian Church in 1951. She met her future husband, Vito Messana through mutual friends in the fall of 1954 and was married on June 1, 1957, at the same church in Blue Island.

Vito and Barbara raised their two beloved sons in Blue Island on the south side of Chicago until 1966 when they moved to Phoenix. Barbara’s first job was at F. W. Woolworth working behind the candy counter. She also worked at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Colorado, the Army Office of Civilian Personnel in Chicago and at the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Phoenix. She became a homemaker when she retired in 1981.

A cheerful sweetheart, Barbara enjoyed completing word finds, eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and fudge sundaes, watching Julia Roberts films and game shows and shopping at Walmart. She also loved to attend a local Senior Center with friends, go to casinos, and visit her beloved sons and grandchildren.

Barbara died on January 23, 2024, at the age of 91 years, 10 months and 25 days. She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years Vito, her brothers Ned and Paul and sisters Kay Pontius and Eunice Sumrall. She is survived by her two sons and their families: Vito and Margie with their sons Vito Preston, Matthew and wife, Eichelle; Charles and Ruby with their children Patrick, Ashley, Hector Jr., Charlie, and Candance. We miss her sunny smile!

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Northwest Community Church (16615 North 43rd Avenue) in Phoenix. A reception will follow.