Melba Louise Toigo

Memorial Mass for Melba Louise Toigo, 88, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church with Fr. Guillermo Gabriel-Maisonet officiating. The morning will begin with a visitation at 9:00 a.m. in the Narthex. The Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. in the church followed by the Memorial Mass at 10:00 a.m. A reception will be held for all family and friends immediately following the mass in the Parish Hall. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Mrs. Toigo was born July 11, 1930 in Allentown, Pennsylvania to the late Minnie Benetta (Hixson) and Austin Daniel DeWalt, and died Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in a local hospital. She resided in Lufkin since 1975 and was the former bookkeeper for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church.

In high school in Pennsylvania, she played the violin in the orchestra with her future husband, Gene. Prior to her marriage, she worked for Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator. After Gene graduated from college, they married and lived in Dallas, Texas, for many years. She spent most of her life as a homemaker, raising three boys and a girl. She returned to college as an adult, first earning her Associates Degree from Angelina College where she was a member of the honors society, Phi Theta Kappa.  She then earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1981.

Mrs. Toigo enjoyed hobbies such as cross-stitching and knitting and was particularly known for knitting prayer shawls with friends for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church and St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church. Mrs. Toigo lived an active and full life.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 66 years, S. Eugene “Gene” Toigo of Lufkin; sons, Wayne Toigo of Morgan Hill, California, David Toigo and wife, Sharla, of Plano, Texas, and Kyle Toigo and wife, Laurie, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; daughter, Monica Mesch and husband, David, of Grand Prairie, Texas; grandson, Jordy Toigo of Chandler, Arizona; granddaughters, Zoe Toigo and Lia Toigo of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Amanda Mesch and Ashley  Mesch of Grand Prairie, Texas; great-granddaughter, Alana Toigo of Chandler, Arizona; sisters, Joyce Breisch of Sydney, Ohio and Donna Vaccaro and husband, James, of Midland, Michigan; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 1611 Feagin Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.