Celestina Messina passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick at the age of 61.

Born in Venosa, Italy, she came to the United States in 1972 and resided in South River before moving to Woodbridge 36 years ago.

Mrs. Messina was employed with Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. in New York City for 28 years before retiring as Vice President of risk arbitrage in 2008.

She was an active communicant of Saint James Catholic Church in Woodbridge and served as comptroller for the Rutherford Homeowners Association in Lavalette.

She was predeceased by a sister, Maria Piergiovanni, in 2014.

Surviving are her husband of 36 years, Giuseppe Messina; sons, Giuliano C. Messina of Austin, TX and Fabio V. Messina of Woodbridge; parents, Rosaria and Vito Briscese, of South River; sister, Luisa Graciano, of South River; brother, Giuseppe Briscese, of East Brunswick; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 9:45 a.m. from Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (costello-greiner.com), 44 Green Street, Woodbridge. A Mass of Resurrection will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Saint James Catholic Church, Woodbridge. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, East Brunswick. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers contributions to Partners for Cancer Cure and Prevention (pfccap.org) in Celestina's memory would be greatly appreciated by her family.