William J. Massa, Sr., 85, of Warren, Pa. died Monday morning, July 29, 2013 at his residence after an extended illness. He was born December 8, 1927 at Warren, PA., to the late Peter J. and Mary Cosmano Massa. He had resided in Warren most of his entire life and was formerly of Youngsville, PA. Bill was a 1945 graduate of Warren High School and had served with the U.S. Army as a 1st Sergeant with 365th Medical Corp. 5th Army. He was employed with the Warren State Hospital as a Psychiatric Security Aide on the forensic unit retiring from there after 33 years of service. After retirement, he was a part time real estate agent with the former ERA Janet Templeton Real Estate Agency. He was a member of St. Joseph R.C. Church and a former member of St. Luke’s R.C. Church where he had served both parishes as a usher. He was a charter member of the Warren Bocce League. He had served as a referee, officiating at high school football and basketball games. In his youth, he played fast pitch softball for Betts for 15 years and played modified slow pitch softball in numerous leagues in Jamestown, Bradford and Warren. He also played semi-pro baseball with the Warren Merchants, his highlight in his sports career was beating Eddie Feigner (King & His Court) 1-0, one of the first teams to beat him at War Memorial Field in the early 1950’s in front of 5,000 people. He had the distinction of playing against Verda Stevens in classic ball game 1-0 during Meadville tournament, also Eddie Feigner struck out the Brown Brothers and Bill Massa blindfolded from 2nd base. He had served as president for 20 years of the Warren County Football Officials (Joseph A. Massa, Sr., Chapter). Avid New York Yankees and Notre Dame fan. He enjoyed all high school sports in Warren, especially watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Theresa Sperry Massa whom he married January 14, 1966 in Warren, PA., 5 Children – William J. Massa, Jr. and Mary Massa both of Warren, PA., Bradley Massa and wife Liz of Virginia Beach, VA., Bonni Knudsen and husband, Peter of Newport News, VA., Barbie Thrower and husband, Marty of Merritt Island, FL., 8 Grandchildren – Brittany, Jena and Ethan Massa of Warren, PA., Ashley Stricker of Merritt Island, FL., Zachary Parker of Lynchburg, VA., Bradley and Elizabeth Knudsen both of Newport News, VA., Aidan Massa of Virginia Beach, VA., 1 Great Granddaughter – Vanessa Stricker, several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 5 Brothers – Steve, Frank, Joseph, Anthony and Sam Massa, 5 Sisters – Mary Ann Schenck, Laura Dangelo, Josephine Papalardo, Genevieve Clark and Helen Foti. Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA. on Thursday, August 1, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. where a vigil service will be conducted at 3:45 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Friday, August 2, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph R.C. Church, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren, PA. with Fr. Richard J. Toohey, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph R.C. Cemetery. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through Hospice of Warren County, 2 Crescent Park, Warren, PA. 16365 or the Warren Sports Boosters. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com
Aunt Teresa, Bill, Mary and families,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father and a great uncle.
He was truly a special person to chat with and hear his special stories about sports.
Bill will surly be missed by a lot of Warren people who knew him well !
My thoughts are with all of you at this time.
Regards,
Jody Gustafson Howe
For All of Us, and most tenderly, for you Aunt Teresa, Billy, Mary, Barb, Brad, and Bonnie,
I acknowledge our loss and along with encouragement, I send comfort, peace, and love to help navigate through these first days without Uncle Bill.
For me, Uncle Bill’s leaving this earth surely does punctuate the end of an era.
While it is a journey we all travel one day or another, Uncle Bill’s leaving is particularly poignant
given his place in the Massa Family and the longing I feel to this day for the warmth of a Sunday afternoon or holiday with the Massa Sisters and Brothers – Uncle Dugan, Uncle Joe, Uncle Frank, Uncle Tony, Uncle Steve, Aunt Laura, Aunt Jen, Aunt Jaye, Aunt Mary Ann, and my mom, Helen.
Just as each and all of them had unique qualities that I remember as a kid, when I conjure up an image of Uncle Bill, it is always his sparkling eyes I remember. Uncle Bill’s seemed perpetually curious and (most always) happy.
When I think about it, it was in all of the Uncles’ and Aunts’ eyes where the truth of who they were showed up. As a kid, from Uncle Bill and his brothers, I learned it is okay for a man to be emotional, to cry, and to express oneself as intensely as a situation warrants. I am forever grateful for this. It makes for a healthy life.
I have come to believe that Massa Eyes always tell the true story. Is there any one of us cousins who couldn’t read our mother’s or father’s eyes and KNOW what we had permission to do and KNOW what was forbidden?(grin)
Uncle Bill’s passing offers us a moment to remember a mighty man, and we do that. And for me, it is also a moment to pause and reflect on what an amazing lineage we come from, what beautiful blood flows through our lives.
I am so grateful to have had the honor of growing up underfoot of Uncle Bill and his brothers and sisters. When I think of the people throughout my life whom I respect and admire for their kindness, thoughtfulness, authenticity, warmth, and sensitivity, Uncle Bill, and again all his brothers and sisters, top the list.
I may not have attended the Massa Reunions regularly or caught up with the latest news, but in my heart, and I trust perhaps in yours, Uncle Bill and all of you, are forever present, unshakable as Grandpa Pete’s determination to grow amazing gardens and keep his grandkids from running through and wrecking them. My memories of the times we have shared as a family, with all of us together, when everyone of them was still alive, when the baked macaroni and orangeade were on the table and the sisters were playing cards in one room while the men watched sports on TV in the other – those memories are forever a part of me.
When I remember Uncle Bill, I think of all of us, and I remember what a family can be.
My thoughts and blessings are with you all.
With love from Claremont, California,
Rusty
Aunt Theresa and Family – We wish you strength and hope in a time of sadness. Though I’ve been someplace other than Warren almost all of my life, you can’t be on the outskirts of the Massa family. So from afar, I mourn the end of the first-generation American Massas. Uncle Bill was a fine man, and you are a great family. I wish you the best that every day can offer you, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My condolences to Bill, Mary, and all of the extended family. He was a terrific guy.
Greg
Bill and family,
So sorry for your loss. Robert and I understand the sadness you are feeling and our prayers and love go out to you and your entire family.
Jan
Sad to hear of the passing of such a charismatic man. I pray that all his loved ones experience the peace of God during this difficult time.
God’s blessings,
Carla
Bill was a great man. I loved going on the Notre Dame Trips with Bill. I will never forget him and the
gentleman that he was. Go Irish
why does everyone praise a person once they pass away
Why do people always praise a person once dead ?