Born February 12, 1934 in Bronxville, NY, Martha was the daughter of the late John and Edith Saunders Crane. Following her graduation from Berkeley Secretarial School, she was employed by Union Carbide, and later by the March of Dimes. She was married to Eugene J. Messenkopf on January 29, 1955, first settling in Eastchester, then Scarsdale, later moving to Pleasantville, NY.
Martha’s favorite times were those spent with family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren always brought big smiles to her face. She also spent many happy hours with friends and loved to entertain, her mantra… the more, the merrier. She enjoyed varied activities through the years, from gardening, to golfing as a member of Bonnie Briar Country Club, to bowling in several leagues, to being a diehard NY Giants fan. She and her husband Gene were also avid travelers, making it a point to travel across the country with the family until they visited all 50 states. Later, they spent time traveling abroad as well, often with friends. She and her husband Gene had several real estate interests in Boone, NC - the High Country Inn, Hunter’s Ridge, and the Hummingbird Hill Cabin Village, and visited the area often. Martha was a faithful parishioner at Holy Spirit Church, Cortlandt Manor, NY.
She is survived by her loving children; Diane Baldyga of Parlin, NJ; Nancy Guttormsen and husband, James, of Yorktown Heights, NY; Gene Messenkopf of Boone, NC; Susan Andreaggi of Cortlandt Manor, NY and her fiancé Joe Zito; ten grandchildren, Andrew Guttormsen and his wife Laurence, Kristen Wedge and her husband Russell, Kaitlyn Guttormsen, Lindsay Bryan and her husband Josh, Jordan Culp and her husband Theron, Tyler Messenkopf and his fiancé Nicole Doctor, Bailey Winebarger and her husband Charles, and Brittany, Ashley and Jessica Andreaggi; as well as two great-grandchildren Avery Culp and Madelyn Wedge.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Edith Crane, her husband, Eugene Messenkopf, her two sisters, Edith Fiorito and Norma Chierichetti, and her son-in-law, Buddy Baldyga.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 10AM (8 Carman Rd, Scarsdale, NY) followed by internment at Holy Mount Cemetery, (California Rd, Eastchester) Friday, January 28th. The family requests that masks be worn by those in attendance. The funeral mass will also be available online through the church’s website using this live-stream link: ihm-parish.org/streaming-mass
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Calvary Hospital (1740 Eastchester Rd, Bronx NY / Calvaryhospital.org).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ELBennettFuneralHomes.com for the Messenkopf family.
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