Obituary of Mary Messina

Mary Messina, 106, of Freehold passed away surrounded by her family at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, NJ on Monday, June 23, 2014. Mary was born, raised and had lived in Brooklyn before moving to Staten Island. She settled to the Surrey Downs Community, Freehold, NJ with her daughter ten years ago. Mary retired from Macys at the Staten Island Mall, as the one of the oldest employees ever, working first in the restaurant and then in the fitting room. Prior to that, she was a seamstress for I.L.G.W.U., Brooklyn and was known during World War II as Rosie the Riveter aiding in the U.S. War effort. Mary was a parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Freehold Township, NJ and a former parishioner of St. Blaise Catholic Church, Brooklyn and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island. She enjoyed her trips to Atlantic City and watching the ponies. Mary could be found in the afternoon watching her stories and crocheting blankets for family and friends but her true love was for her family. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Michael; seven brothers; two sisters; and a grandson, Anthony Cilente. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Cilente of Freehold, NJ; two grandsons, Jerry Cilente of Edison, NJ and Ron Cilente of Staten Island, NY; four granddaughters, Anne Ciely of Millstone, NJ, Mary Ellen Cilente of Freehold Township, NJ, Teresa Sepetjian of Edison, NJ, and Cathy Cerra of South Plainfield, NJ; sixteen great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township, NJ on Friday, June 27, 2014 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Relatives and friends may gather at the funeral home on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 9:00 AM for the procession to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township, NJ for her 10:00 AM Funeral Mass. For those who desire, memorial contributions in Mary's memory may be made to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728. Entombment will follow in the Cemetery of the Resurrection, Staten Island, NY. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.