Graveside services for Frances Messina Cefalu, 106, of Leland will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Leland-Stoneville Cemetery. She passed away peacefully on Monday morning, July 25, 2022. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
Frances was born in New Orleans, LA, in 1916, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants. She married Leon A. Cefalu of Leland in 1945 and lived in Leland until she moved to Magnolia Gardens in Greenville in 2017. The Cefalu family owned and operated the 7Up Bottling Plant in Leland. She was a communicant of St. James Catholic Church. She worked for several years at the Mississippi State Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville as a lab assistant. Frances was loved by her many friends and relatives for her thoughtfulness and kindness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Leon A. Cefalu. She and Leon loved to travel throughout the US, enjoyed dancing at Lillo’s and spending time at casinos. She was a faithful follower of the New Orleans Saints, Mississippi State and Notre Dame football. She was active until her latter years and often said “if you rest you rust!” She lived looking forward without regrets other than that she didn’t become a professional ballroom dancer.
She is survived by her daughter Laura Cefalu Forbes of Memphis, son Leon Cefalu (Cindy) of Madison, step daughter Mary Ann Cefalu Gall of West Palm Beach, FL, 2 grandchildren Carlo Forbes (Tracy), Kelli Cefalu and 2 great grandchildren; 5 step grandchildren and a number of step great and great-great grandchildren.
The family is grateful to Barbara Grey for her companionship and help while Frances lived in Leland, her caregivers from Magnolia Gardens and her sitters Dot Watkins and Helene Lewis who loved and cared for her during her last years.
A visitation will be held from 1:00-1:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Boone Funeral Home, Leland. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.