?Juanita Battista, 85 years, of Monroe, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 8:30 PM in Mercy Memorial Hospital.
Born September 28, 1926 in New Tazewell, Tennessee, Juanita was the daughter of the late Walter and Martha (Sandefur) Phillips. Juanita attended school in New Tazewell and was a 1944 graduate of Claiborne County High School in Tennessee. She then went on to attend business college.
On September 1, 1951 Juanita married her beloved husband Silvio Anthony Battista in Monroe, MI.
Juanita began her career as a Librarian at the University of Tennessee. While living in Monroe she was the executive secretary for James Leake at Leake Stamping in Monroe for ten years and worked as a receptionist at the Monroe County Health Department for 17 years from which she retired in 1993. In addition to her work outside the home, Juanita was a wonderful homemaker.
Juanita is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years Silvio, her loving daughter and son in law; Janet L. and Greg Staso of Monroe and a sister Pauline Leake of Raleigh, North Carolina.
In addition to her parents, Juanita was preceded in death by two sisters and five brothers.
In keeping with Juanita's wishes all services will be private and entombment will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. The Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., in Monroe is assisting her family with funeral arrangements.