Remembering Kay Messina, 1939-2016

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends will gather later this week in memory of Kay Messina, and are sharing this remembrance now:

Free from the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease, Kay’s spirit is free to soar again.

Born to Leo “Skipper” and Helen Kelly, Katherine Margaret “Kay” was raised as one of seven brothers and sisters in Anaconda, MT. After college, Kay moved to the big city (Seattle) to work as a medical records administrator. There she met the love of her life, Ben Messina. They married in 1963 and had three boys, Michael, Tony, and Mateo.

For the next 53 years, Kay loved, laughed, and sang her way through raising a family, pursuing a career, building lasting friendships, and generally demonstrating how a life well-lived should be. Together with Ben she enjoyed plays, dinners, friends, glasses of wine, and traveling far and wide. Their journeys included exploring their roots in Ireland and Italy, and making trips home to Montana for the annual family gatherings that continue to this day.

Kay raised her boys with love, grace, and good humor. She showed them the power of love in the devotion she and Ben shared, as well as the value of community in the friendships they made, and their 50-year membership with Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. In her career, she worked with health-care facilities around the region, including a long association with Mt. St. Vincent, where she spent her final days in their care.

Kay was fortunate to have married an engineer. As Alzheimer’s progressed, Ben was able to continually develop solutions that would allow to her to remain at home for much longer than most. For that, we are forever grateful. In addition to her family and friends’ memories of her twinkling Irish eyes, Kay leaves behind Ben, her beloved husband of 53 years; sons Michael (Yvette), Tony (Dawn), and Mateo (Tammy); and eight grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Mt. St. Vincent or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. An evening vigil will be held Thursday 2/11/16 at 7:00, and a funeral mass on Friday 2/12/16 at 11:00, both at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please visit www.emmickfunerals.com to share your memories of Kay.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

AT February 10, 2016 (8:30 am)

Rest In peace, Kay. Heartbreaking that such a nice family had to deal with such a terrible disease for so long. All the best to Ben and the boys.

Norma February 10, 2016 (10:46 am)

Sending love and prayers to all the family. I know it was a long and difficult journey. You made even this part of her life meaningful.

Karan and Jim February 10, 2016 (5:45 pm)

Peace at last. Dear Kay, we will remember her well with her sweet smiles, good humor, cute pink outfits, and the fun wine tasting events. Special blessings to Ben and family for their love and support.

Val & Tom February 10, 2016 (11:08 pm)

Forever an Irish lass of twinkling eyes, spunky good humor and unflagging commitment to family and friends. We are so glad to have known Kay for the past 40+ years. She was a treasure. Her laughter rings in our memories. Heartfelt condolences to Ben and family.

Sorry, comment time is over.