Nancy I Balaschak

Nancy L. Balaschak Pepperell, Massachusetts - Nancy Isabelle (Lonuzzo) Balaschak, 73, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, February 23, 2018, after battling cancer for 1 year and 2 months. She was surrounded by her loving family as she entered into eternity, greeted in confidence by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Nancy was born on February 12, 1945 in Bristol, Connecticut, to Thomas and Marie Lonuzzo. She shared her youth with her little sister, Diane, and several close family friends. She graduated from Southington High School on June 17th, 1962. Nancy married John F. Balaschak on October 26th, 1963. Together with their four children, they moved from Southington, Connecticut, to Ashburnham, Massachusetts in 1977. It was here that they made the home that their children and grandchildren would grow-up in. For several years, Nancy worked for John R. Briggs Elementary School, serving lunch in the cafeteria. In 1984, she worked full time in the Administrative Office for NEBS Inc., of Townsend, Massachusetts until retirement in 2005. From there, she worked part-time at the Peppermint Pig Coffee Shop in Ashburnham, serving coffee and treats to the local community. Her personal ministries included serving on the Hot Meals Team for Bethany Baptist Church, delivering Meals On Wheels to the elderly in the Ashburnham community, and demonstrating the love of Christ to her family and friends. Nancy dedicated her life to serving everyone she loved, in service to the Lord. Though their residence was in Ashburnham, the family established a home away from home on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard. Nancy’s daughter, Jacqueline, inspired her parents to visit the Island after summering there with her childhood best friend (The DeLisle family). Nancy formed some of her most cherished memories during her summers on the Vineyard. You’d often see her searching for sea glass in the sand, digging up clams with her feet, and soaking up the hot New England sun on her beautiful, olive, skin. A proud memory was the year she won third place in the Martha’s Vineyard Blue Fishing Derby. Her sister, Diane, and brother-in-law, Tony, soon joined in those memories when they purchased their own island cottage. Nancy and Diane would prepare their weight in striper and bluefish, clams, squid, and flounder every summer. It was the time of year to hone in on the gift given to them by their father, Thomas Lonuzzo, of creating authentic Italian cuisine. In Nancy’s lifetime, those talents were passed down to her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. It was here that Nancy and Jack laid a foundation for their children and close family. They taught them the art of “sustenance living” and instilled in them strong family values. Values that, through several generations, became their legacy. Nancy is predeceased by her Father, Thomas Lonuzzo, who immigrated to America from Bari, Italy after World War I; her Mother, Marie (Booth) Lonuzzo; her daughter-in-law, Sarah (Treptow) McCall; and her Husband of 48 years, John F. Balaschak. Nancy is survived by her beloved companion, Roger Bourget; her treasured sister, Diane (Lonuzzo) DeLorenzo and her husband Anthony DeLorenzo; her four children, Jacqueline Balaschak and beloved companion Neil Flynn, Wendy Ann (Fortier) McNall and beloved companion Allen McNall, Jeffrey Balaschak, and Jennifer Jones with husband Brad Jones; her nephews, Thomas DeLorenzo and wife Nanette DeLorenzo, Michael DeLorenzo and beloved companion Alissa Marino; her three step-children: Judy Gravelle and husband Louis Gravelle, Sandy Marshall and husband Kenneth Marshall, and John Bourget; ten grandchildren, John Yarrington, Jacob Fortier and beloved companion Lacey MacCartney, Lucas Balaschak and wife Elizabeth Balaschak, Nadine Pabón and husband Joshua Pabón, Olivia Sias and husband Jonathan Sias, Rachel Fortier, Casey Jones, Michelle Fortier, Coco Fortier, and Cheyenne Fortier; three grand- nieces and nephews: Matthew, Kaitlyn, and Bryce DeLorenzo; and eight great-grandchildren: Lucas (Kale) Ezzelle, Cambria Pabón, Atticus Pabón, Kristen Pabón, Evelina Cravatta, Petra Balaschak, Willow Balaschak, and Declan Thomas Fortier. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 3rd at 12:00 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 72 Ryan St. Gardner, MA 01440. Flowers will be received in love, as well as charitable donations made to Teen Challenge-New Hampshire at 147 Laurel Street Manchester, NH 03103. Donations can be made by phone at 603-239-2371, or online at tcnewhampshire.org. “To live the life I love and love the life I live.” Nancy Isabelle Lonuzzo, Class of 1962. Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks, a Mack Family Funeral Home 105 Central St. Gardner, MA is assisting the family with arrangements.