Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Donna Messina, who worked in the hair and makeup department of General Hospital since 1982, has died, her co-workers announced on social media.
The cause of her death this week was not revealed.
"To say her presence will be missed is an understatement. She was an incredibly warm, witty and all around great gal. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones," showrunner Frank Valentini tweeted.
"Sometimes you meet someone in life you just connect with and then unfortunately life just takes that person away," Maurice Benard wrote on Instagram. "And no matter how much your heart breaks you want to remember the good times."
"Donna welcomed me and treated me like a long lost Italian family member from day 1. Always supportive always smiling. Heart. Broken. Rest easy beautiful Donna," Dominic Zamprogna tweeted.
"She loved u Dom," Benard tweeted in reply to Zamprogna, who plays his son Dante on the soap opera.
"God bless sweet Donna Messina. A great friend and mother hen of us all. We went to her with our feelings, we could speak freely & we knew we were safe..and when we needed it, she would give us a stern no bull talking to, to set us straight. There was no better friend. Godspeed," posted Genie Francis, who plays Laura.
"A makeup artist/therapist to many. Donna was the most compassionate person I've ever known. My heart goes out to her family at this time," said Kimberly McCullough, who plays Robin.
Donna Messina (Department Head, #GH Makeup & Hair) joined the @GeneralHospital family on 8/26/1982. To say her presence will be missed is an understatement. She was an incredibly warm, witty and all around great gal. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones.
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) December 7, 2018
