Balzer, Eileen T. (Kelly) Balzer. Age 95 of Arlington, MA on November 27, 2019 surrounded by her family. Daughter of Michael H. Kelly and Eileen T. (Roche) of Arlington, MA. Wife of the late George C. Balzer, Jr.; Mother of Kathleen A. and her husband Shelton B. (Tod) Wicker of Londonderry, NH; Nancy E. and husband David LeDuc of Newton, NH; the late George C. Balzer, the 3rd of Arlington, MA; Mary Ellen (Dee) and husband David J. Powers of Andover, MA; Eileen T. (Terry) and husband Alex Petruska of Westborough, MA; John G. Balzer and wife Leah of Ipswich, MA. Grandmother of Eric T. Wicker of Londonderry, NH; Thomas Wicker and wife Dawn of Shelton, CT; Suzanne LeDuc and husband Joel Lavallee of Newton, NH; Michael LeDuc and wife Pam of Dover, NH; Aimee (Leduc) and husband Jeff Whipple of Weymouth, MA; Jennifer Powers and husband Matthew Cavenaugh of Jonesboro, AR; David Powers and wife Beatriz Navarro of Washington, DC; Jacquelyn Powers of Andover, MA.; Alex Petruska and wife Kayleigh of Grafton, MA; Natalie (Petruska) and husband Jay Donovan of Plympton, MA; and Cassandra Balzer of Chicago, IL; Maria Balzer of Washington, DC; Dominic Balzer of Ipswich, MA, along with their mother Donna Pisciotta, also of Ipswich, MA; and Sebastian Balzer of Ipswich, MA. Great grandmother to 13 children and aunt to many wonderful nieces and nephews. Sister of Kathleen (Bubby) Gillis of Westborough, MA; Marguerite Patricia (Patsy) Prior of Stratham, NH; and Ann Montminy of Gilford, NH. Eileen graduated from Arlington High School in 1942 and then attended Katherine Gibbs College in Boston, MA. She met her husband George C. (Bud) Balzer, Jr. in Arlington and they married in 1946 after the war. They lived first in Nashua, NH, followed by Elbridge and Cortland, NY and finally settled back in Arlington, MA in 1956. Her focus was on raising her 6 children. It was no simple task as one of her children was mentally challenged. She became active in the Massachusetts Retarded Association for many years and worked tirelessly to find a path for him in life, until he died unexpectedly in 1991. Eileen had many passions including her love of reading and learning in an age where libraries were the source and television was in its infancy. Thus she had strong opinions both personally and politically. She challenged herself in playing bridge with several groups a week, while volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader and as a member of the Women's Sodality. She had a passion for music and dancing which she shared with her husband and passed on this love to her children and grandchildren. She even went back to work outside the home for several years when her husband retired in 1982 at the “young” age of 58! She was a remarkable woman who instilled value in education and empowerment through knowledge, especially for women (her four daughters!).
She lived at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center in Haverhill, MA, for the past 16 years, after sustaining a disabling stroke in 2003. She continued to find the light and joy in every day, especially in those that “brought life to her” in their regular visits. Always a smile on her face when you entered the room…she was an inspiration to her family and a true Celtic Warrior.
Relatives and friends are invited to visitation hours from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, on Friday, December 6th at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut Street, Arlington, MA (adjacent to St. Agnes Church); followed by a funeral mass at 1 PM at St. Agnes Church, Arlington, MA and burial service at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, also in Arlington. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to: Hannah Duston Resident Activities Fund, 126 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832.