PHOENIX, Ariz. — Virginia Marie Balestrino, age 94, formerly of Hubbard, Ohio, died Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2013, at Pacifica Senior Living in Phoenix.
Born Dec. 15, 1918, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, she was a daughter of (Salvatore) Samuel and (Sabina) Mary Carano DePaul and lived most of her life in Hubbard, having lived in Florida for 6 years after retirement and living in Conneaut for 20 years before moving back to Hubbard in 2005.
Mrs. Balestrino, a graduate of Hubbard High School, was a registered nurse having worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center for 40 years, retiring in 1980. A Veteran, she served with the United States Army for 2 years.
She was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church and also a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Conneaut. Virginia enjoyed needlepoint, gardening, sailing, garage “sale-ing” and reading. She was a great baker and made an amazing spaghetti sauce.
Her husband, Anthony F. Balestrino, whom she married Sept. 8, 1948, died Dec. 27, 2006.
She leaves three sons, Frank (Earlene) Balestrino of Tucson, Ariz., Dr. William (Laura) Balestrino of Phoenix and Larry (Suzanne) Balestrino of Poland; three daughters, Marcia Ann (Chuck) Balestrino of Phoenix, Lisa (Danny) Morris of Louisville, Colo., and Jane (Dr. Eric) Hagberg of Brookfield; a sister, Mary Louise (George) Petrusko of Hubbard; 17 grandchildren, Andrew, Canyon, Cooper, David, Hannah, Kaileen, Lauren, Logan, Michael, Michelle, Neal, Nicole, Rachel, Reggie, Spencer, Tara and Victoria; and five great-grandchildren, Mariah, Shelby, Anthony, Emelia and Sidney.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Anthony and Samuel DePaul; and two sisters, Caroline Carano and Helen Doughman.
Funeral Services will be held 9:15 a.m., Saturday, March 16th, at the KELLEY-ROBB-CUMMINS FUNERAL HOME, 709 North Main St., Hubbard and 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. Virginia’s final resting place will be at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Ariz. She will be placed with her husband Anthony in a niche later this spring. Please contact the family if you would like to attend.
Family and friends may call on Friday, March 15th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the KELLEY-ROBB-CUMMINS FUNERAL HOME.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85014 or to Honor Flight Northern Arizona, P.O. Box 12258, Prescott, Ariz. 86304.
Please visit starbeacon.com and www.krcummins.com to view this obituary and to send condolences to the family.
