Obituary: Ann Messina, 97, of Springfield

Ann Marie Messina (nee Annie Marie DiGiammatteo), 97, of Springfield, New Jersey, passed peacefully on November 12, 2021, at Brandywine Assisted Living in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Ann was under hospice care since mid-August, and even though she had a few miraculous comebacks her last three weeks were too much of a climb for her.

Born in Stirling, New Jersey, on August 9, 1924, she later moved to Jersey City. During WWII, Ann was employed in the US Employment Office in Summit, and then at the Port Newark Shipyard. After the war, she worked for two years with the Indemnity Insurance Co., in New York. She married Joseph in 1947, lived in Newark until 1957 then moved to Springfield for the next 64 years where she raised two sons.

She worked for the Springfield Library for 19 years, and after retirement, Ann was a member of The Friends of the Library. She often remarked that her years working at the Springfield Library were the best years of her life. There she assisted the music librarian, and without a doubt, the Springfield Library had one the best jazz collections due to Ann's involvement.

Joe and Ann were parishioners of St. James the Apostle Church and members of the St. James Seniors. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Patrick and Mary DeVito DiGiammatteo, her two sisters, Frances Pepe and Sylvia Harris, and her husband Joseph Messina (who died in January of 2021 at the age of 98). Ann is survived by her two sons, John and Don (his wife Ellen); two granddaughters, Lauren (husband Patrick) and Liana (fiancé Matt); three grandsons, Joseph, AJ (wife Camilla) and Nicholas; three great-grandchildren, Morgan, Milo, and Amelia.

Ann and Joe will be buried together in Stirling. Joe will receive a military burial for his service during WWII in the Army Air Corps. Ann will be reunited with her mother and father, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, a few uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Due to the continued health risk of Covid-19, there will be no wake or repose afterward; however, in the spring, when there is an unveiling of Ann and Joe’s headstone, the family plans to have some sort of get together to celebrate both Ann and Joe.

As sad as this may be to all those who knew Ann as their friend, their neighbor, library co-worker, fellow church congregate, or cousin, aunt, godmother, mother in law, grandma, great-grandma, Ann (and Joe) lived remarkable long lives on their own terms, and for the most part, they remained independent. There is so much more to celebrate than to mourn: they were blessed with extraordinarily good health, careers that they enjoyed and they loved being grand and great grandparents.

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Funeral: A Catholic Mass will be at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 250 Bebout Ave. in Stirling on Thursday, November 18 at 10 am. Interment will follow at St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery, also in Stirling.

Memorial Gifts: In lieu of flowers or cards, donations in Ann’s name may be made to St Jude’s Children Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.