Obituary of Christyna Emma Mecca

Christyna Emma Mecca, 78, of Triune community on Halleck Road, died Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Sundale long-term care facility of complications from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy that she had fought for several years. Chris was born October 23, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter of Donato A. and Esther Ashland Mecca and grew up in Durham, NC. She earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology at The George Washington University and her M.P.A. at West Virginia University. Over the years in the Washington, DC area, Dr. Mecca worked at the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, the National Institutes of Health, the Coastal Plains Center for Marine Development Services and the Environmental Control Administration, Bureau of Radiological Health, Division of Biological Effects. She also taught at The George Washington University and at Montgomery College, College Park, Maryland. In 1976, Chris moved to West Virginia. She worked as Administrative Officer in the law offices of Hammack and Walker in Blacksville, as a Data Analyst for the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Fund in Charleston and for the Mon-Delphi Research Group, Department of Public Administration, W.V.U. She taught in the Department of Public Administration, and the Biology Department at W.V.U. and Department of Biology at Wheeling College. In 1990, Dr. Mecca began working as Assistant Professor of Biology at Waynesburg College and over the years taught a variety of courses including Principles of Biology, Genetics, Environmental Toxicology, Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology and Cell and Molecular Biology. She retired as Professor of Biology from Waynesburg in 2005. Chris loved West Virginia, the beauty and complexity of the natural world, reading, writing poetry and short stories, weaving, gardening, and travel. She was predeceased by her parents, Donato and Esther Mecca. Chris is survived by her partner of many years, Linda Butler, her niece Wendy Williams of Indianapolis, sister Penny Williams (Jimmy) and niece Kim of Florida, a Mecca uncle and aunt and many Mecca cousins. Close friends that survive include Gloria Hammack, Val Nieman, Tom Miles and Sue Sailor. We wish to thank the following for kindness and care over the last several years: Twila and Tracy (Springs Nutrition), Dr. Negri and Laurie (Infinity Health Care), Kathy and Reid (Evans Knob Farm), Dr. Tracy Weimer and staff (Department of Neurology, Eye Institute, W.V.U.), Drs. Hartzell and Ysla and Susan Millham (Chestnut Ridge Hospital), Reliable Health Care Solutions (especially Peg Seidel and Jeri Stone), and in more recent days, HealthSouth (especially Dr. Vicky Mays, Katherine, Erin, and Allison), and the excellent and caring staff at Sundale, and Hospice Care of Authurdale. We also thank the wonderful staff in the office of Dr. Chris Giuliani for their love and support, Sandy at Penny’s Hair Salon, and our neighbors on Williams Lane. At her request, Chris will be cremated. Hastings Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Chris’ memory to Sundale (800 J. D. Anderson Drive, Morgantown) and to Hospice Care Corporation (P.O. Box 760, Arthurdale, WV 26520). Online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.