ANITA JOYCE MESSER

June 4, 1931 - October 21, 2015

Anita Joyce Messer of West Milford passed away on October 21, 2015. She was 84. Anita was a ribbon-winning quilter, accomplished seamstress and exceptional at any decorative project from decoupage, toll painting, to refinishing furniture. A faithful servant of the Christian Church, she raised her family in kind. With humor, Anita was a joyful story teller, proud of her meager upbringing, and loved to share about life on the farm with no running water or electricity, and, upon starting nursing training, how she’d never encountered a microscope or a telephone. She was sponsored through and graduated The University of Texas Nursing Program in 1950 where she went on to study cardiac and critical care nursing, a career where she excelled and loved dearly. She firmly believed that anyone can overcome their circumstances with hard work and faith, as she did. Anita was a doting and proud Nama to her only grandchild, Sam, the light in her life. She was in awe of his many talents and immensely proud of the man he is becoming. Sam and Nama were kindred spirits and, while the games changed through the years, they were favorite playmates. She was predeceased by her husband Richard B. Messer, her son-in-law Edward Bednarski, her brother Royce Shaw, and her sister Willie Mae “Prunie” Wilson. Anita is survived by her daughters and their families; Cathlyn & Richard Acker and Elizabeth Bednarski & grandson Sam Bednarski; her brother David Shaw; and her sisters Nell Bibb and Bonnie Moore. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Hospice of New Jersey, Wayne 400 Broadacres Dr. 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 893-0818; or to Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee PO Box 7519 Redlands, CA 92375 (909) 957-3982. Log onto www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com tribute wall to personally post your condolences, memories, photos, and videos, as well as obtaining driving directions to the funeral home. .