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1921
2014
Marie L. Balsara, 92, of Manchester formerly of Glastonbury, died Monday February 17, 2014 at home. Born in New York City on April 3, 1921 to Louise (Darre) and Bhicaji Framji Balsara. Maries' father, from Mumbai, was one of the very first citizens of India to become a U.S. citizen. He was a cotton buyer. Maries' mother Louise was a first generation American born to a Swiss-German mother and French father, John Darre, he owned a French bakery in New York City during the late 1890's and early 1900's. Marie attended school in Leonia, NJ and attended the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College) where she graduated in 1943. Upon graduation, she was employed by the Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company in New York City and in 1975 transferred to the Hartford Office where she eventually retired after 41 years. Marie was an enthusiastic gardener and maintained beautiful gardens at her home in Glastonbury for the thirty years she lived there. It was very hard for her to leave them and move, but in 2010 she moved to the Arbors in Manchester, CT where she resided until her death. While at the Arbors, she made new friends, including her primary caregiver Miriam Salifu. Miriam and Marie spent many enjoyable hours together shopping, dining and time at Barnes & Noble, Marie's favorite place. In addition to gardening, Marie loved music and her church. Marie and her sister Barbara grew up singing in the Presbyterian Church in Leonia, NJ. She also taught Sunday school and was a Deacon at the church in Leonia. In Glastonbury, she belonged to the First Church of Christ, Congregational where she was active in many church groups, including the Prayer Shawl Ministry. In 2009, she decided that access to the church was most important for persons with disabilities and donated the funds to construct a beautiful access area to facilitate entry into the church. Marie had many friends from the church and her career whom she stayed in contact with through the years until her death. She would travel to visit family until just a couple of years ago when her health prevented her from such excursions. Her love of music was evident by her love of Mozart and trips to New York City to attend performances at the Metropolitan Opera, along with support of the Connecticut Opera and Hartford Symphony. Marie is survived by her niece Frances Ann Ade and her husband Gerhard and grandnephew Nicholas Ade of Seattle, her nephew Alexander Montague Main, III of Columbus, Ohio and grandniece Victoria Elizabeth Main and great grandniece Amelia Bretz of San Francisco. Her brother-in-law Alexander Montague Main, Jr. of Columbus, Ohio. Marie was preceded in death by her sister Barbara Balsara Main formerly of Columbus, Ohio. A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, February 27 at 11am in the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 2183 Main St., Glastonbury with a reception to follow in Schultz Hall at the church. A graveside service will be held on Friday February 28 at 11:30am in the Hackensack Cemetery in Hackensack, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorial Contributions may be made to the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 2183 Main St., Glastonbury, CT. 06033. For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.
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3 Entries
Our entire family has fond membories of our backyard neighbors in Glastonbury--Marie, her mom, and her aunt. They shared in all the special events in our family and we met her family on their visits to CT. Even though we moved to SC 14 years ago, we kept in touch--visits with her, Alec, and Barbara in Bluffton; her visit to Raleigh to be with our family at a special party; her attendance at our daughters' southern weddings; our visits back to Glastonbury. She was an honorary member of the Borkowski family. We will miss her.
Alec--we only heard recently that you lost Barbara in 2013. The sisters will now be reunited in heaven. Our prayers to you all.
Love, Rick and Carol
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Carol and Rick Borkowski
March 9, 2014
Marie was a very special lady. I met her on my first day of work at Aetna in New York City 1973. She taught me all the special Underwriting tips and she enjoyed every day at the Aetna. It was a very special place to work and even when they moved the operation to Hartford the experience in National Accounts Department was one to remember. It was an environment to grow and develop. Marie was a very kind and patient lady and she had the respect of all the agents and staff. She spent many holidays with my family telling stories of life in Leonia NJ. It was an honor to know her and she did have a wonderful life.
Barbara Natarajan
February 22, 2014
To Marie's family,
We were neighbors of Marie on Worthington Road until 1987 when we moved to a condo in town. We attended her Mother's 100th Birthday - how proud Marie was of her Mother. We chatted frequently while she was tending her gardens. We had not seen her recently, but did run into her occasionally at the grocery store. You are in our prayers. Rest in peace, Marie.
Janet Franklin Enid Redfern
February 21, 2014
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Mulryan Funeral Home - Glastonbury725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT 06033
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