MEMORIALS
Patricia Kathleen Kohn Mecca passed away on December 4, 2020, at the age of 88 Years. She was born on August 14, 1932.
She was a resident of Lake Worth, Florida, and recently of North Collins, New York.
Loving wife of the late Vito Mecca.
She was the beloved mother of Kathleen E. Mecca, Leonard "LV" Mecca and his wife Melinda, Steven H. Mecca and his late wife Laurie, and Peter C. Mecca and his wife Cynthia.
Pat Mecca is also survived by her loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was the sister of the late Mary Lou and Barbara.
​
Patricia Mecca Memorial
Vito Marion Mecca Memorial
Laurie Ann Mecca Memorial
Laurie Mecca, 65 years old, wife of Steven Mecca, and mother of Vito (Deborah) and Steven (Maya Ward), passed away on February 17, 2020 with her husband, brother and friends by her side.
She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Christine Fullone and her sisters, Rosella and Lucille.
She is also survived by her brother Vincent, her grandchildren Andrew and Julianna and many friends and family members.
Laurie was born in Gowanda, New York on February 3, 1955 and she and her siblings grew up in a large, Catholic, Italian family.
She and Steve were married on November 15, 1980 in New York. Laurie and Steve made South Florida their home since 1984 where they raised their sons and became very involved in local community events.
Laurie was a lifelong schoolteacher dedicating the last 33 years to the Palm Beach County School Board. Laurie’s last teaching position was as Science Specialist at North Grade Elementary School in Lake Worth.
In addition to making her husband and family and particularly her grandchildren the center of her life and love, Laurie loved gardening, a hobby that gave her peace of mind and joy. Laurie was a particularly gifted teacher in being able to reach disadvantaged children and helping them to realize their dreams. She often did this through her love of gardening, particularly at Pine Jog Elementary School where she developed and introduced vertical, hydroponic gardening to the children, staff, and families.
​
Edwin Winter Memorial
Edwin Richard Winter passed away on April 22, 2007, at the age of 86. He was born on September 2, 1920.
He was a longtime resident of Langford, New York.
Loving husband of Pearl Winter.
Father of Michael Winter, Patricia Romero, Kathleen Winter, Eileen Winter, Robert Winter and his wife Karen, Dana Winter, Cheryl and her husband John Wepiz, David "Kissy' Winter and his wife Kathleen Mecca, Michelle and her husband Anthony Thies) and the late Mark J. Winter.
He was grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was the brother of the late Florence Gentner, Mary Dole, Martha Losey, Arthur Winter, Pete Winter, Wilma Kolz, Elmer Winter, Leo J. Winter, Jeanette Winter and Barbara Lovett Buseck.
​
Edwin was one of the founding members of The L.N.O.V.F.D.
The Langford-New Oregon Volunteer Fire Company was formed in 1944 by a concerned group of local residents, including Edwin Winter, and other farmers and business owners, in an effort to provide quick fire response and protect their community in the event of disaster. The tiny Hamlets of Langford and New Oregon are in the Town of North Collins, but on the far west side of town, well away from the village’s fire station.
Edwin’s family were parishioners and contributed to the building and maintaining of
St. Martin’s Church, in Langford, New York. Edwin’s parents, John Winter and Florence Jones were the first to be married in the church on October 22, 1902.
Other Things May Change Us.... But We Start and End With Family.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon,
my midnight, my talk, my song. ~~W.H. Auden
If you live in Western New York and are looking for a fun family activity that’s a little “outside the box,” Winter’s Pond could be just right for you. It’s free, fun, and easy.
Winter’s Pond is basically a large pond where you can feed geese. It’s private property that is open to the public. The best part is the fact that after you park your car you will walk through an old covered bridge to a little island in the pond.
Between the bridge, pond, and the geese it is a very peaceful and idyllic setting. It conjures up images of small-town New England. We’ve been there twice in the past year or so and had the place to ourselves both times. Watch your step, because the island is covered with goose poop. And don’t let your kids get too close to the water or the geese.
There were lots of colorful flowers in full bloom leading up to the entrance of the covered bridge and a bunch of lily pads with flowers, on one side of the island.
Winter’s Pond is located in the town of Langford, NY. So if you visit at the right time of year you can go to the pond and then stay for the tractor pull nearby.
Mark L. Mecca Memorial
Leonard Mecca Memorial
Mark Leonard Mecca passed away on August 28, 2021, at the age of 46 . He was born on March 11, 1975.
He was a long-time resident of of Lake Worth, Florida.
​
Mark is survived by his loving wife Kristine Dill Mecca, his three daughters Makayla, Madaline, and Khloe and his son Mark Jr.
He is also survived by his mother and father, Geraldine and Leonard Mecca, his siblings Lori and husband Joseph Schwab, Thomas and wife Patricia Mecca, Kimberly and husband Peter Pero, Melonie and Louis Catalano.
​
A 1993 graduate of Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. Mark and Kristine were high school sweethearts and were married in 1999. Mark’s life revolved around his 4 beautiful children. They were the center of his being and he was dedicated to ensuring that his children knew they were always loved.
​
Mark began his farming career with Mecca Farms, Inc. working for his father and three uncles, Peter, Louis and Vito Mecca. In 2003, Mark established Mecca Family Farms Ltd. alongside his brother, two sisters and extended family members.
He worked in tomato sales and was a member of the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange for many years. Mark over saw many aspects involving the packing house and field operations. Farming was his passion in life and Mark was dedicated to supporting his family and passing his legacy along to his children.
Mark enjoyed spending his summers in Western New York at his family’s home, lovingly referred to as “Papa’s Mountain”. Many years were spent riding four wheelers, clearing trails and preparing for the family’s annual Fourth of July party. Mark’s July Fourth firework display was well known and people from all over the surrounding areas would come to enjoy the show.
Mark was a selfless individual and continually thought about others before himself. Not only was he devoted to his family but he was always looking for ways to help the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic Mark was instrumental in starting Mecca Family Farms Ltd. box sales to support the public and provide families with alternative options for fresh produce. Mark and Kristine are very supportive of Restor-ation Bridge International and helping those facing food insecurity in Palm Beach County.
Mark had a love for everything cars, trucks, and John Deere tractors which he shared with his son, brother and nephews, Eric and Thomas. Mark loved spending weekends attending auctions throughout the state always looking for the next new toy. Another of his favorites was the annual Daytona 500 trip spent with his closest family and friends.
Dr. Peter L. Mecca Memorial
Dr. Peter L. Mecca, a resident of North Collins, NY and Lantana, FL, passed away, at the age of 94, on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at his home in North Collins, NY.
He was the son of the late Leonard and Carrie (Catalino) Mecca.
He was born on July 2, 1914 in Brant, NY
Mecca was the eldest son in an Italian farming family of eight children.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Josephine (Bernhardt) Mecca; brothers Vito, Louis, and sisters, Lucy, Catherine and Ida.
He is survived by his sister Carmella (Leonard) Cordaro and brother Leonard (Geraldine) Mecca; stepchildren Gale Kempf and Gary Smigiel; several grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Nephew Mark Mecca attributed their uncle's longevity to watching what he ate - and having a glass of red wine every day.
Peter was a graduate of the University of Buffalo School of Dentistry. He practiced Dentistry in Silver Creek and Eden, NY.
He became a dentist, but when his father died prematurely in an accident, Dr. Mecca, 26, was needed to run the farm. Even after tuberculosis claimed one lung, he continued to work his family's land holdings, which by 2001 spanned 8,000 acres in Palm Beach, Broward, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. (CBS12) — Local growers are now offering affordable fruit and vegetables to communities in need.
​
“Honestly we didn’t think it was going to go over like this. We’re having people come from Miami and all the way up from Port St. Lucie, which is kind of crazy,” said Louis Catalano, whose wife owns Mecca Family Farms.
​
The line at the farm stretched down the block on Friday, everyone coming to get their hands on boxes of fruits or vegetables for just $10.
​
Mecca is a family run business and when everything closed down, they had a lot of produce, nowhere to sell it, and the community was in need.
CBS Television News Clip
Facebook Link to Mecca Family Farms
www.facebook.com/MeccaFamilyFarms
He operated a successful farming business, as president of Palm Beach County's Mecca Farms, Inc., with farmland in upstate New York.
"He was the brains behind the operation. He was the president," his niece Lori Schwab said Thursday. "He made all the business decisions." And despite her uncle's
advanced years, she said, "he was active in the business until 2003."
​
They grew tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, but it was the family's 1,920-acre grapefruit and orange grove west of Palm Beach Gardens put Mecca in the public eye.
Palm Beach County purchased the Mecca grove in 2003 for $30,000 an acre, or $60 million. "I represented them on the sale of the grove for Scripps," Rodriguez said. "Peter was more interested in doing what was right and seeing that Scripps project go on their land than he was in the money."
Nephew Mark Mecca said the family's tomato farming business continues in Palm Beach and Broward counties, including a packinghouse west of Lantana.
"He was a wonderful guy with a big heart,"
Those of us who knew him will remember him for his compassion, kind heart and devotion to his family.
Leonard Mecca passed away on August 20, 2022, at the age of 89 He was born on May 20, 1933, in Brant, New York.
​
He was a long-time resident of Lantana, Florida.
​
He was the husband of his beloved wife, Geraldine Mecca.
Leonard was the youngest of eight children, and last remaining brother of the Mecca Brothers.
​
He was predeceased by his parents Leonard and Carrie Mecca, as well as by his siblings Lucy, Peter, Catherine, Ida, Louis, and Vito.
He was the father to his loving children Lori and husband Joseph Schwab, Thomas and wife Patricia Mecca , Kimberly and husband Peter Pero, Melonie and husband Louis Catalano, and his late son Mark Mecca and his wife Kristine.
He was grandfather to 16 grandchildren and great-grandfather to 13. He is also survived by his sister Carmella Cordaro.
Leonard and his three brothers (Peter, Louis and Vito) owned and operated Mecca Farms, Inc., growing various fruits, vegetables, and citrus.
He and his family are mainly known for the tomatoes that they grew, packed, and ship-ped, in Lantana, FL.
They also owned multiple John Deere Dealerships, in Western New York, and were members of Welch's Grape Co-Op and Growers & Packers Canning Co-Op.
​
​
​
Louis Mecca Memorial
Louis Mecca grow up as a farmer in rural North Collins, NY. passed away, at the age of 80, on Saturday, October 9, 2004.
He was born in 1924, in Brant, NY. He was the son of the late Leonard and Carrie (Catalino) Mecca.
For most of his 80 years, Louis Mecca, VIce-President of Mecca Farms, lived a farmer's life. But that changed when he and his two surviving brothers decided to sell their 1,900 acre orange grove, west of Palm Beach Gardens, for the construction of The Scripps Research Institute.
"He was amazed that an orange groove could become something so valuable, He was excited to see Palm Beach grow and have a research center", said his daughter Angela Moore.
He was survived by his wife of 47 years, one son, one daughter (Moore), his two brothers and grandchildren.
When he was a teenager, his father died, and all four brothers took over the family farm. His younger brother Vito, died before him.
Later on, (not wanting to endure the cold winters, and realizing you could grow tomatoes in the sand) he and his brothers moved south to Florida, and became Mecca Farms.
