Claire Messina Taylor died Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. She was 79 years old.

She was wife of the late William Isaac Taylor, daughter of the late Ophelia Roussel Messina and Morris Joseph Messina and sister of Robert E. Messina Sr. of California and the late Shirley Mae Messina and Morris Russell Messina. She was the aunt of Gwendolyn M. Hanhart of New Orleans, Claire V. Bodie of North Carolina, Kelli L. Messina of Alabama, Robert E. Messina Jr. of California, David Messina of California, Maryanne M. Beck of California and the late John Messina.

She was also the stepmother of Demerice T. Bouchart of Lumberton, Miss., Mary T. Dillenkoffer of River Ridge, Billie T. Spanier of Luling, Donna T. Goodman of Georgia and the late Major William Bradford Taylor. She is also survived by many great-nieces and -nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cousins.

Taylor was born in New Orleans and moved to Metairie in 1955. She worked for the Whitney National Bank in the Trust Department for 47 years, ending as a trust officer. She was a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen Church.

Relatives and friends, also officers and employees of the Whitney National Bank are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery) on Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting until 8 p.m. and on Monday from 9 a.m. until time of service. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park. To view and sign the Family Guest Book, go to www.lakelawnmetairie.com.