Maureen Messina, 81, of Longwood, Florida passed away on July 1st, 2025. Maureen was born in White Plains on March 29th, 1944 to Marie and Charles Donaldson.
Their family moved to Yorktown Heights in the mid 1950's, where Maureen attended Yorktown public schools. She met her future husband, Francesco (Frank) Messina, in middle school. Maureen and Frank began dating in high school and that high school sweetheart relationship would last until the end of her life.
Maureen attended New Paltz College and then onto a career at General Foods at their headquarters in White Plains, NY. Once Frank and Maureen got engaged, she moved to Long Island where Frank was stationed in the Air Force. October 9th, 1965 Marueen and Frank were married. They had their first child Matt in 1969 in New York.
Frank's job took them to Chicago, where they had their second child Kathleen in 1971. Ultimately, they decided they wanted to be close to their parents so they moved to Florida where their last child Kelly was born in 1977. While in Florida, Frank and Maureen worked together to build a successful window company and they owned that for many years.
Eventually, Maureen ventured into real estate where she thrived. She enjoyed the fast pace of the sales environment and developed a strong network of friends who were made up of colleagues and clients alike. She continued in real estate, which was her passion, until 2019 when she needed to retire due to health challenges.
Maureen was most passionate about her work and her friends, who she held very dear. She has had many friendships that have lasted over 50 years. She also loved hosting her large extended family for any holiday and was a strong bit of glue that held the family together.
Maureen was preceded in death by her parents, Marie and Charles Donaldson. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Frank Messina, son Matthew Messina, daughters Kathleen (Messina) Kosciusko and Kelly (Messina) Sturgill, son-in-law Michael Kosciusko, son-in-law, Rich Sturgill, granddaughters Isabella Kosciusko, Eva Kosciusko, Lilian Nace, Anna Kosciusko, Lucy Nace and Sophia Nace and grandson Dylan Stugill.
A funeral mass will be held at Annunciation Church, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL on Wednesday, July 23rd at 10:00 AM. There will be a celebration of life immediately following the service at Heathrow Country Club, 1200 Bridgewater Drive, Lake Mary, FL.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association (
www.alz.org
).