Brenda M. Messina

In Loving Memory of Brenda Mae Messina

October 21, 1955 – July 10, 2025

Brenda Messina, 69, of Harrisburg, PA, passed away on July 10, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on October 21, 1955, in Harrisburg, PA, Brenda was the daughter of the late John Foreman and Della Lippert (née Nies). She graduated from Central Dauphin High School in 1973 at the top of her class. Brenda went on to own her own massage therapy business for 30+ years. With her strong and healing hands, Brenda provided soothing care to loyal clients who became dear friends, sports teams (Central Penn Piranha football team), pregnant women and more.

A young mom, Brenda was a committed mother to her three children—Brent, Dawn, Veronica—and a proud grandmother or Mema to five grandchildren.

Brenda had a passion for gardening, ballroom dance, and her Super Bowl Champion Eagles. Brenda used her landscaping and painting skills as business opportunities as well as to help each of her children remodel and update their homes. She loved her signature cheese and mayo sandwiches along with her drinks such as Tab, Red Bull, and Gatorade. Her humor was laced with sarcasm and grit.

Brenda was always the “fun mom” serving as the East Pennsboro cheerleading coach, band parent and slumber party hostess. Over her lifetime, Brenda cared for others, taking many people into her home in their times of need.

She is survived by her children Brent Plummer (Susan Morine), Dawn Plummer (Diana Polson), and Veronica Galasso (Robert Probst); her grandchildren Caelen Plummer, Aidan Plummer, Maya Plummer, Elijah Plummer Polson, and Jude Plummer Polson; her brother John Foreman (Rita); and her sister, Sharen Knaub. She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters Dorothy Shonyo, April Myers, and her brother-in-law William Knaub.

A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held on Saturday, July 19, at 1:00 p.m. at Kimmel Funeral Home in Harrisburg, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Carolyn Croxton Slane Hospice Residence or Carolyn’s House.

Brenda’s legacy of love, fierce loyalty, determination, and humor will live on in all who knew and loved her. Go Eagles!