Date Deceased: 8-17-2008 Barbara Vallario Messina,57, of West Lane, Kensington passed away Sunday, (August 17, 2008) with her loving family by her side. She was the daughter of Peter Vallario and the late Margaret Moylin and was the loving wife of Paul Messina.

Barbara was a member of the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department for many years, and served as recording secretary and was a member of the Board of Directors. She was a member of Saint Paul Church in Kensington. She loved Teddy Bears, Nascar Racing, the New York Yankees, UConn Women's Basketball, and enjoyed Needlepoint, Knitting, Crocheting and a variety of other crafts for which she won many awards.

Beside her father and her husband, Barbara is survived by her step mother Lois Ferguson Vallario of West Hartford; a step daughter Sheri DeJesus and her husband Kenneth of Kensington; two brothers, Daniel Vallario and his wife Cheryl of South Windsor, Ronald Vallario and his wife Cyndi of Farmington; three step brothers, Wayne Ferguson and his wife Joy of West Hartford, Ronald Ferguson and his wife Trudy of Kensington, Kevin Ferguson of Rhode Island; two step sisters, Jane Ferguson of New Hampshire, Susan Atwood and her husband Chris of New Britain; a sister-in-law Debra Struck Slowkowski and her husband John; and several nieces and nephews. Barbara was predeceased by a sister-in-law Sharon Vallario.

Friends and family are invited to call on Wednesday, August 20, from 5-8 p.m. at the Berlin Memorial Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Kensington. Funeral Services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, August 21, at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Saint Paul Church, Alling Street, Kensington. Burial at Saint Mary's Cemetery in New Britain will follow.

The family wishes to convey their special thanks to Helen Lewandowski, Karen Zovich, Dr. Pogue and the Oncology Staff at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain, and Central Connecticut VNA. Donations can be made to Kensington Fire Department, 880 Farmington Avenue, Kensington, CT 06037 or Geo. Bray Cancer Center, c/o Hospital of Central CT, 100 Grand Street, New Britain, CT 06051. Published in the Hartford Courant on 8/19/2008

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Paul Messina died early Friday (July 8, 2011) after a long battle with cardiac complications.  Paul, originally of New Britain, was always a leader. As a child, he was an Eagle Scout and achieved high honors such as the Order of the Arrow and “Ad Altare Dei.” He entered the Air Force at age 19 and served as a staff sergeant until 1969. Continuing his passion for planes, Paul worked for Pratt & Whitney for 31 years building jet engines before retiring in 2009.

In addition to planes and NASCAR, the fire service was an obsession from a very early age, from hanging out at the local fire house as a child to joining the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department in 1969. Paul was a dedicated firefighter and EMT. In his 42 years of service, Paul achieved the rank of assistant chief commissioner and president of the fire department. He was well-liked and deeply loved by his friends and family.

Paul is survived by a daughter Sherri Messina DeJesus of Kensington, a sister Debra Slowikowski and her husband John of Kensington; many close personal friends and the entire Fire Department family. In addition to his parents Paul F. and Helen (Toczko) Messina, Paul was pre-deceased by his wife Barbara (Vallario) Messina.

Friends and family are invited to call on Monday, July 11, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Berlin Memorial Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Kensington. Services will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Saint Paul Church, Kensington. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Britain. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Kensington Fire Department. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at both Yale University and St. Francis Hospital, especially Dr. Richard Soucier