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WARREN – Marie Ann Martini Balista, 71, of Warren, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014, after a valiant fight and multiple complications of heart surgery at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 16, 1942, the loving daughter of Perry and Angelina Martini.
Marie loved working with people. She was a successful personnel consultant, at one time owning her own training and development and recruiting agency, Mar-ton Associates.
After retiring, she spent her time working for her church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, which was a merger of St. James and SS. Cyril & Methodius parishes, where she worked for more than 15 years. She knew everyone, and everyone knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband, Anthony R. Balista Sr., whom she married on Sept. 20, 1981; her son, Anthony R. Balista Jr. of Niles; stepdaughters, Natalie Balista of Pine Beach, N.J., and Tonie Ann (Balista) Frank of Piscataway, N.J.; stepson, David Gilbert Balista, currently serving in the Air Force; a brother, Dr. Perry Martini, currently residing in Annapolis, Md.; and numerous grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents and a brother, Vincent Martini.
Marie was a special loving and giving person who would do anything for anyone anytime of the day or night, and spent 19 years of her life caring for her father, then her mother, and then her brother. After they passed on, she adopted a parishioner and then a complete stranger to care for, giving them a quality of caring and kindness unmatched by anyone I have ever seen.
“Marie was a Florence Nightingale and Mother Theresa rolled into one. And I am so honored to have been a part of her life. She was loved by everyone and anyone. She will be so missed by all those whose lives she touched and especially by me, her husband of 33 years.”
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (St. James site) with the Rev. James P. Walker officiating. Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel in Warren.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Warren.
In lieu of flowers, donations of a kind act to a stranger, animal or anyone in need is what my loved one’s greatest desire would be. It is what she would have done.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary, sign the guestbook and send condolences to the Balista family.
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