Emilie G. Massa

She was born to Joseph and Marie-Assunta Gagliardini in Nice, France on September 1, 1914. Emilie’s profession in the restaurant and hotel industry gave her opportunities to travel to many of France’s exclusive resorts and create a lifetime of memories. She came to America with her son, Daniel, in 1956 and settled in Houston where she met the love of her life, Tony Massa. They were married in April of 1958. Emilie worked with Tony at the original Massa’s Oyster House at 620 Louisiana Street. In the mid 1960s the restaurant moved to the corner of Milam and Rusk Streets, where it remained in operation as one of downtown’s best known seafood destinations until Tony’s death in 1978. The Massa’s Restaurant tradition continues today with nephews Mike and Joe Massa.

Tony and Emilie enjoyed traveling. They made numerous trips to France and Italy. Emilie was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church of Houston. For more than 32 years Emilie spent her time volunteering at St. Luke’s Hospital International Patient Services, where she served as interpreter for French and Italian patients. She was a member of several organizations, including the Houston Restaurant Association, the Italian Cultural and Community Center, Women’s Rotary Club of Houston, Catholic Daughters of America and Unico.

Emilie is preceded in death by her husband, Tony Massa; parents, Joseph and Marie-Assunta Gagliardini; sister, Marie Schreder; and brother, Emile Gagliardini. She is survived by her son, Daniel Sessions, and his wife Susan; granddaughters, Nathalie Sessions Fye and husband David Fye; Stephanie Sessions and fiance’ Jeremy Pelham; great granddaughter Sophia Emilie; brother Raymond Gagliardini of Toulon, France and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Houston and France.

A visitation will be held at Heights Funeral Home, 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Wednesday, September 3, 2014. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 4 at 10:00am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell, Houston, Texas 77007. The Rite of Committal will follow at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Ave., Houston, Texas 77007. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Emilie’s name to St. Thomas High School’s 4500 Forever Fund, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007.

Arrangements under the direction of Heights Funeral Home, Houston, TX.