MESSNER
Claudia Jean Messner, beloved wife, mother, Oma, sister and friend, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 26, 2014.
She is survived by her three beautiful children, Matthew T. Messner and wife Elizabeth Messner, Michelle Messner Haider and husband Leslie J. Haider II and Melissa J. Messner; grandsons, Leslie J. Haider III and Lukas Wayne Haider; granddaughter, Lily Ava Haider; brother, John A. Lugo and wife, Hilsa; and sister, Stella Besa and husband Andrew Besa. She is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Wayne Messner; parents, Fred and Elida Lugo; son, David Lorne; sisters, Sylvia Marroquin and Sally Ann Lugo.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 18, 1939, Claudia enjoyed a magical childhood full of love, laughter and family. Those three things were the epitome of who she was. Those things meant everything to her. She graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Always nurturing and serving others, she joined the Air Force as a flight nurse and continued her career in nursing at Santa Rosa Hospital. She met the love of her life, her honey, Ervin Wayne Messner, and the two were married in February 1964. Sharing a glorious life for 41 years, Wayne and Claudia raised their three children. Claudia spread her love everywhere she went. She enjoyed a career of taking care of others with the Bogalusa Heart Study for 20 years. She retired in 1997 and moved back to San Antonio to be close to her children and family.
She was an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, San Antonio, where she served as Eucharistic minister, a member of the ACTS community and in many other ways. She loved giving of herself and spent most of her time serving her Lord.
Always the caregiver, she enjoyed nurturing her “babies,” her three precious grandchildren. Traveling and learning about history held a special place in her heart. She enjoyed many vacations with her husband and family, spanning the globe — France, Spain, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. Her trips to the Holy land and Rome touched her the most because of her strong faith in God. She also often traveled to Guatemala to work with a team of doctors and nurses to give medical aid to impoverished families. When Claudia wasn’t traveling she enjoyed playing Bunco, visiting with her friends, laughing and caring for those in need. She was a friend to everyone and when she walked in a room, the light of God shone bright. To Claudia, she never met someone she didn’t love and she always told them so! Her vibrant smile and willingness to serve her Lord and others will be greatly missed. Her special words of encouragement are forever with her family and friends, “May the Holy Spirit Guide You and Jesus Sit Beside You.
The family will receive friends Thursday, May 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary North. A rosary will be said Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Porter Loring North Chapel.
The Funeral Mass will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 20523 Huebner Road in San Antonio. Msgr. Douglas Fater will preside. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 20523 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258 and Shared Beat, 238 W. Hosack Street, Boerne, Texas 78008.