Joseph Messina OBITUARY

Our beloved father and friend, Joseph Messina, has passed away at the age of 89. Joseph, born by the name Giuseppe Messina in Palmi, Italy, was also known as Papa, Nonno, Giuseppe, Peppino, and Joe to the many people who loved him.Joseph grew up in Italy and served as a nurse in the Italian Navy. After serving, he married his wife Millie and immigrated to California to start a family and successful business careers.During his 65 years in California, Joseph and Millie became prominent business owners and community members in the cities of Vallejo and Clayton. Together they constructed homes, owned successful Italian restaurants, and started their family. After Millie’s passing in 2005, Joseph continued to be active with family and friends.Joseph loved to sing, make homemade wine, grow roses, take friends to casinos to eat at the buffet, make Calabrese-style zeppole, drive his treasured cars, play cards and bocce, travel, swim in the ocean, watch every southern Italian festival on YouTube, and many other active activities.He is survived by his three daughters, Lucia Messina, Luciana Messina and Diana Messina, his two grandsons that made him a proud grandfather, Ruben Robles and Joseph Robles, and many other family members and friends.Family and friends are invited to pay their respect to Joseph on June 28, 2024, at a 11:00 AM viewing and 12:00 PM church service at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 860 Oak Grove Road, Concord, CA 94518, followed by the burial at Queen of Heavens Cemetery, 1965 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, CA 94549. For further needed information, please call Diana Messina at (916) 479-0709.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a comparable donation in Joseph’s name to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.donate.cancer.org).