Lena Mazella Conte

It is with a heavy heart, but with much gratitude for a long and beautiful life, that we the family of Lena Mazzella Conte announce her passing on Monday, June 6th, 2022.

Lena was born on July 8th, 1928, in Blue Jay, the daughter of Josephine and Joseph Mazzella.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Louis Conte; her sisters, Lana Mazzella Conte and Josephine Mazzella  and her husband Louis and her daughter, Olimpia Conte Banning and her husband, Gary.

Left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Louisa Jordan and her husband, Paul and Linda Conte and “adopted daughter, Donna Bobbs; her beloved grandchildren, Joseph Jordan who is father to Zoe Lilith and Jaxton; devoted granddaughter, Emily Jordan as well as Christopher Lee Banning and his wife, Lucia and daughter, RoseWynne; Jeffrey Scott and Lani Banning and great grandchildren, Brandon and Ethan; a brother-in-law, Joseph Conte and an extended family of nieces and nephews.

A 1948 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Lena married the late Louis Conte on September 20th, 1951.

Lena’s family moved to Beckley in 1941 and bought “Jimmie’s Place” on South Kanawha Street.  In the 1950’s Lena and her husband, took over and turned an existing restaurant/bar into a beloved meeting place for friends and family.

Lena was very active in the community and became a member of several committees, Beckley Women’s Club the Beckley Chapter of the Historical Society and the Art Museum.   She was a lifetime member of the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, where she belonged to the Cemetery Committee for St. Sebastian, the Ladies of St. Francis, serving as head to the Bereavement Committee.  She was an usher at the church for many years and part of the Corpus Christie Committee and sang in the choir.

Lena and Louis were focused on education.  They help found a scholarship called the BAF, Beckley Area Foundation.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the fund.   There is a website for donations, BAFWV.org

Finally, the family would to thank those who made the tough journey easier- AMEDYSIS, her caregiver, Unna Smith and Hospice of Southern West Virginia.

Lena Conte was a special lady.  Her passing has left a void in the heart of Beckley community that will be difficult to fill.

 The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, June 13th at 11:00 am from St. Francis de Sales Church.  The Rite of Committal will follow in the Conte-Mazzella family crypt in the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will be receiving friends from 6 to 8pm at the Melton Mortuary Chapel on Sunday, June 12th.  At 7:30pm on Sunday evening, those who like to share a memory of Lena are invited to do so at that time.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lena Mazella Conte, please visit our floral store.