Barbara Bloomer Messina Hildago

"Barbara Bloomer Messina Hidalgo, age 84, a native of McGehee, Arkansas, and a resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away January 14, 2019 at her home. Barbara loved horticulture.  She enjoyed sitting in her immaculate garden admiring her beautiful plants. She loved spending weekends at the local nurseries looking for unique and colorful flowers and plants.  She never saw a plant she did not like and wanted to take home. She was known for her beauty and her signature color of orange.  She loved to laugh and only spoke kind words.  Barbara was an ardent Saints' fan and literally helped Drew Brees call every play.  She lived most of her life in Monroe, Louisiana where she raised her five children, and she was a proud alumnus and a point guard at Neville High School in the 1940's.  She moved to Baton Rouge, when she married her present husband, Don Hidalgo in 2005.  She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her wonderful husband, Don Hidalgo.  She and her husband traveled extensively in the United States with multiple visits to the West Coast, a particular cruise to Alaska and an extensive time in Europe. A month long visit to Spain where she became a local favorite to do the flamenco. She always traveled with cash because she could not pass up anyone with a sign saying "homeless and hungry." Barbara and Don went through three wedding ceremonies - first, when they were married in St. Lucia by a Justice of their Supreme Court; a second marriage occurred in Baton Rouge by Fr. Jeff Bayhi. They then went to Rome, where their marriage was personally blessed by Pope Benedict.  She is survived by her husband,  Don Hidalgo of Baton Rouge, LA; children: Elizabeth Davis and husband Jerry of Brandon, MS; Barbara Jo Miletello and husband Timothy of Madisonville, LA; Joseph Rodney Messina and wife, Jamie; Kelly Gwin and husband Greg of Calhoun, La; and Julie Walmsley and husband, George Ricky Walmsley of Mandeville, La;  stepchildren: Donna Hidalgo Lahners, Michael Hidalgo, Paul Hidalgo and wife Vickie, Lori Hidalgo Bayliss and husband Steven, Leslie Hidalgo Sheets, Lisa Hidalgo Schuster and husband Keith, and William Hidalgo; Grandchildren: Jamie Kitchin, Jerrod Messina, Janna Kiefer, Amy Rhodus, James Michael Davis, Reese Griffin, Morgan Edwards, Caci Phillips, Cameron Phillips, Conner Walmsley, Cole Walmsley, Brooklyn Gwin, Williams Lahners, Lauren Lahners, Jessica Dennis, Michael Hidalgo, Dan Sheets, Courtney Bolin, Brian Bayliss, Jonathon Hidalgo, Allison Hidalgo, and 10 great grandchildren.  Barbara is preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Messina, Jr. of Monroe, LA;  beloved brother, Andy Bloomer of Monroe, LA; and step sons in law, William Lahners and Danny Sheets.  Visitation will be held Friday, January 18, 2018, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church from 10:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Randy M. Cuevas as Principle Celebrant assisted by Concelebrants, Fr. Gerald Burns, Fr. Jeff Bayhi, Fr. Frank Bass.  Pallbearers will be Joseph Jerrod Messina, Michael Reese Griffin, James Michael Davis, Caci Phillips, Cameron Phillips, Conner Walmsley. Honorary Pallbearers: Cole Walmsley, Steve Bayliss, Michael Hidalgo, Brian Bayliss, Paul Hidalgo and William Hidalgo.  Memorial donations may be made to The Parkinson's Foundation.