Dolores E. Balsano

1925 - 2016

Dolores E. Balsano

Born: September 7, 1925; in New Eagle, PA

Died: July 20, 2016; in Vero Beach, FL

Dolores E. Balsano, nee Greaves, 90, a long-time resident of Waterman, Illinois, passed away in Vero Beach, Florida, on July 20, 2016, after a decade long battle against Alzheimer's disease.

Dolores was born in New Eagle, PA on September 7, 1925. After graduating high school, Dolores was employed by Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania as a telephone operator.

Dolores married Anthony J. Balsano of Charleroi, PA, on September 7, 1948. They resided first in Charleroi, and then Lansing, IL, before moving to Waterman. The couple shared a love of roller-skating, dancing and playing cards. Over the years, they traveled to California, Florida and Australia.

In Waterman, Dolores worked at the family's T&D Dairy milk bottling plant and convenience store. She was later employed as a cook for a Northern Illinois University fraternity and home health care provider, assisting the ill and elderly.

Dolores was active as a vocalist in the choir of St. James Catholic Church in Lee, a member of the local Red Hat Club, a frequent judge of elections in Waterman, a fan of the Chicago Cubs and an avid bird watcher. She also enjoyed investing in video poker and slot machines whether or not they actually paid off.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony; her brothers, Bernard and George Greaves; and her niece, Mary Margaret Greaves.

Dolores' greatest joy was sharing in the lives of her six children, Phillip (Gail) Balsano of Naperville, George Balsano of San Francisco, CA, Becky (Paul) Statman of Culver City, CA, Marianne (Jon) Day of Vero Beach, FL, Michelene (Matthew) Carroll of Sydney, Australia, Caroline (Jeff) Koerner of Bloomington; 13 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Her strength and love that she passed down to her family, came from her faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

The view of her life from her children's perspective is summed up as follows:

"Dolores Elvira Florentine Norma Greaves Balsano; a magnificent name for a magnificent woman. Unique in every way. Mother to six children and loving wife to a fiery Italian man. A hard working woman with dreams of her own that were never fully realized and so instead she would pass this energy down as immeasurable support to her children. Encouraging them to believe that they could succeed in anything that they chose to do, be it a creative or educational endeavor.

She preached following your heart. A mother who was so resourceful that many times the solutions to problems were ridiculously humorous.

This was not your ordinary mother or wife. She was a singer and a cook and a fierce protector of her kids and husband, opinionated sometimes to a fault, who had a love for playing all games (especially ones that she could win), a gift for laughing hard.

The strength and spark and heart that came from her was extraordinary. She taught honesty and love and compassion and understood the underdog's plight better than the underdog himself."

Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, followed by a funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb with Fr. Paul Lipinski of St. Mary Church of Sycamore officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Dolores E. Balsano Memorial Fund, addressed to the Balsano Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.