Rosemary “Sis” Massa, 90, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Homestead Assisted Living, where she had been a resident for 9 ½ years.
She was born March 12, 1936, to Tony and Katy (Jersic) Barone at their family home in Camp 51. She graduated from Arma High School. She later earned an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Fort Scott Community College.
On Aug. 4, 1956, she married John Massa, who preceded her in death on Dec. 29, 2019.
She was a homemaker on their family farm in Mulberry and also taught at Head Start for several years. She enjoyed cooking, especially frying all of John’s fish that he caught over their sixty-three years of marriage. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Grammy,” “Mockie,” and “Mimi.”
She was a lifelong member of the Mulberry United Presbyterian Church, and she and John were very active in the Mulberry community.
Survivors are her son, Mick Massa and wife, Lorain, of Mulberry; her daughter, Diana Elnicki and husband, Rick, of Pittsburg; her grandchildren, Cody Elnicki, Alaina Holmes and husband, Ray, Kayla Pruitt and husband, BJ, Brice Elnicki and wife, Sarah, Ashley Elnicki and husband, Andy Wachter, Blake Massa and wife, Barbara; her great-grandchildren, Jake and Bailey Holmes, Easton and Mason Pruitt, Knox, Finn, and Rush Elnicki, and Bodhi and Béa Massa; her brothers, Pat Barone and wife Sharon and Jim Barone and wife Donita.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her parents.
A visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, at the Bedene Funeral Home in Arma. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, at the Bedene Funeral home in Arma with the Pastor Randy Beeman officiating. Burial will be at the Pittsburg Garden of Memories Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Mulberry Seniors Citizens. Donations may be sent to the Bedene Funeral Home, 517 E. Washington, Box 621, Arma, KS 66712. Condolences may be left at www.bedenefuneral.com.
