Katherine Margaret Messina

Kay Messina

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 travelling 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.   Please visit www.emmickfunerals.com to share your memories of Kay.

Funeral Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle