Ella Mae Cecilia Massa

Ella Mae Massa departed this world peacefully at home and with family in Carlsbad, CA on October 21, 2023 to join her beloved husband, Mead. Mae was born Ella Mae Cecilia Lanza to Charles Lanza and Louise Garver in 1929 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As a child of the Great Depression, she faced childhood challenges few remember. After high school in Lancaster, she graduated Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and began her career as an RN. As luck would have it, her roommate introduced her to a brother who became her soul mate and partner in adventure for 65 years, Emiddio (Mead) Massa. Married to her Naval Aviator fiancé in 1951, Mae, who had never travelled more than 50 miles from her childhood home, soon found herself surviving a winter in Maine, alone, as Mead was called to an unexpected deployment to Iceland. Thus began a seasonal series of new military orders that saw the arrival of the five Massa children, each in a different state. All arrived as their father continued his long Naval career, and even longer deployments, away from home. Mae became part time accountant, full time chef, school teacher, handyman, clothier, mechanic, electrician, plumber, emergency medical technician, disciplinarian, counselor and deliverer of that most feared warning, “Wait until your father gets home.” Since that was often several months in the future, she quickly returned to hugs goodnight and bedtime stories. Their adventures together included a tour with three of their children to Argentina where Mae also found herself in charge of frequent international entertainment duties in a foreign language along with the continuation of her parental duties sometimes under, quite literally, gunfire. Following Mead's retirement they built their life in San Diego centered on a growing family that included wonderful new additions including Allen, Beverly, Lorna and Lynn and grandchildren Mathew, Dominic, Michael Jr, Emiddio and Alexandra. Growing families have seen the arrival of grandchildren Jennifer, Richard and Nathaniel and the joy of great grandsons, Nathan and Noah. Mae was a generous, caring and gentle woman who built her life around supporting her husband and her children over herself. Determined and self-sufficient, she raised her family in a manner that allowed them to take daring adventures into an uncertain world and always return to a place of love and safety. Mae was nowhere happier than on a long walk on the beach enjoying a Pacific sunset. Her wishes are to have her ashes scattered at sea, which will be brought to reality by her family in January 2024 along with a Celebration of Life gathering. Her legacy truly is one of love and family. Her generous approach to all things will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The deep sadness accompanying her departure will be tempered by an encyclopedia of irreplaceable and often unimaginable loving memories.

In lieu of flowers, should you wish to remember Mae, please make a donation in her name to Our Lady of the Rosary church, 1668 State Street San Diego, CA 92101. Your donation can be made at this link:

https://www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/olrsd

Please change the form to "one time" and under fund: "Memorial Donation". Then add “Mae Massa” instead of the 'envelope number'. You can also contact the office directly at 619-234-4820.

Mae’s life will be celebrated at noon mass at Our Lady of the Rosary church on Saturday January 20, 2024. Following mass, you are invited to join a Celebration of Life at Mae’s home in Carlsbad. Please let us know you will be coming by RSVP-ing at: [email protected]