Mary Jane (Achilles) Balsdon
Mary Jane (Achilles) Balsdon, 96, of
Mary was born in
She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing in several clubs around town. She had a great appreciation and love of nature, cooking, reading, and time with family.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Gerald C. Balsdon; son, Gerald B. Balsdon; grandson, Steve Beliles; brother, Richard Achilles; and sisters, Rosette Owens and Marjorie Slater.
She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Russell; son, Bruce R. Balsdon and wife, Debbie; daughter-in-law,
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Mary's caregivers, Cindy Peerman, Jayne Christian, Maria Treado and Crystal Hays, VistaCare Hospice and Dr. Mehrzad for their excellent loving care of Mary.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2008, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by the Rev. David Peterson, with entombment at
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VistaCare Hospice,
February 5, 2008
Lisa, I am sorry to hear of the great loss to your family. Your grandmother seemed to be an extraordinary person. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers at this time of sorrow...
Take Care, Dusty Smith (
February 5, 2008
Debbie and Bruce, You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless! Kim Wolf (
February 5, 2008
I thank you all for letting me know of Mary's passing. She was very dear to me, giving me a mentor for how to be a grandmother and a role model of how to deal with my adult children. I truly admired her and cared about her as one of my true friends. I appreciated the opportunity to know her and spend time with her. I will always remember her with fondness. Suzanne Biviano (
February 5, 2008
Lori and Lisa, My heart aches for your family right now. My God bless you and keep you close to him during this time of loss. Amanda Roth (
February 6, 2008
Ginny, I'm so sorry about your grandmother. Give your Mom and your family my love and save a lot for yourself. Love ya, Suzie McGhee (
February 6, 2008
Anytime we lose someone very dear to us, we find ourselves thinking of all the wonderful times that we shared with that person. Usually we gather at the funeral and share them with our family and friends for comfort and fellowship.
Unfortunately, I am unable to come to the funeral to share my memories in person, so I wanted to share them in this way.
Minny, as I always knew her, was such an exceptional person and meant so many things to so many people. Here are some of my special memories that I am grateful for.
For letting me slide down the support pole in the basement at least a hundred times every time I visited her as a child, usually landing on the arm of a chair, probably with dirty shoes on.
For letting me run a cash register at the Lincoln Ave Store when I was too small to reach the register without a milk crate.
For teaching me to play “double solitaire” when I was too small to shuffle the cards and playing with me even when I know she was too tired……Until I started to beat her, then we stopped playing
For taking me to the State Hospital to feed the ducks all the stale bread they could hold.
For letting me sleep between she and Pop Pop when I spent the weekends with them. For some reason, the first night I slept between them. The second night I slept on the chaise lounge chair…….
For taking me out to lunch and always letting me order whatever I wanted, usually fried shrimp and a Shirley Temple to drink
For the one time she took me to her bridge game and I sat behind her and read out loud all the cards in her hand…….for some reason, she never took me to bridge club again.
For arranging and financing my braces to give me a beautiful smile.
For fixing me lunch when I came to her house during lunch from Harrison
For helping to pay for my wedding before I had even asked for her help
For paying for my tuition to Indiana University School of Medicine
For hiding the Easter eggs and always putting one in the big tree at the back of the front yard so that I could always find that one first
For fixing all the wonderful food for every holiday gathering
For taking me to see New York when I was only 8 years old and surviving my airsickness all the way. Hard to believe that she was brave enough to take me to
For letting me circle all the items I wanted for Christmas in the Sears Catalog and actually giving me most of them.
This list could go on and on as Minny was such a giving person. I can only hope that I can apply what she has given me in my own family. I will miss her terribly and know that she is happily reunited with Pop Pop and will have a great feast ready for the rest of us when we join her someday.
With all my love and appreciation, Mary Russell Torres (
February 8, 2008
My memories of Aunt Mary are so wonderful. The Easter egg hunts, her throwing 'sparkles' in fireplace at Christmas, and more than anything, her heartfelt kindness. I'm sorry that I was across the country and unable to make the funeral. I miss seeing the family and I will miss her. Mike (and Tina) Keil (
