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Subject: [CAFresno] Geraldine "Jeri" BALESTRA (1920-2003) (obit.)
Date: 24 Apr 2003 10:37:20 -0600
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Surnames: BALESTRA, HUDSON, SMITH, NIELSEN, MAROTT, DIVA, SORRILL, VANCE, WHITE, JONES
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/GW.2ADE/1250
Message Board Post:
Geraldine "Jeri" Balestra
Geraldine "Jeri" Balestra passed away Saturday, April 12, 2003 in Clovis, surrounded by her family. She was born June 14, 1920 in Kingsburg, the daughter of Fresno teacher J. Wiley Hudson and Hazelle Hudson. She lived her very full life in the San Joaquin Valley with brief residencies in Panama after World War II, in New Mexico and in Woodland the past few years where she enjoyed fine care at Alderson's Convalescent Hospital. She was married to Sanger farmer Ernie Balestra who she met as he purchased farm equipment from her employer Fresno Ag Hardware. They were known as a handsome and dashing couple. Together they raised a son and two daughters. Jeri was a major force in the life of her granddaughters Prima, Brandi and Daysha.
Jeri graduated from Fresno High School and attended Fresno State College. Her beauty was such that local businesses vied for her picture in their ads long before "super models" became vogue. She served in many capacities working with her children's schools and was president of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Her loving spirit and legendary generosity touched all who knew her.
Over the years friends and family enjoyed swapping Jeri stories. No minuscule occurrence in someone's life escaped her attention or generosity. Family, friends and neighbors in need were lavished by her thoughtfulness and courtesies. Her nieces and nephews all still call her their favorite aunt. She was a regular at the community library, prolifically devouring books. Her love of literature inspired her family and friends to become book lovers. Her cousin Jack Smith succinctly captured the essence of Jeri Balestra as he said good by last week. He gently touched her, kissed her forehead and said, "It's been a great party, Jeri and you always were the prettiest girl at the ball!"
Her parents J. Wiley and Hazelle Hudson, her husband Ernie Balestra and her daughter Denise preceded her in death. Her son Senator Jim Nielsen; daughter Lisa Marott; grandchildren, Prima Diva, Brandi Sorrill, Daysha Vance, Brandt Marott, Melissa White; and great grandchildren Jim, Bryan and Adam Nielsen, Jaime and Brittany Vance and Logan Jones survive her.
The family requests that any remembrances be directed to The Foundation for Excellence at Woodland Christian School, P.O. Box 93, Woodland, 95695.
(Obituary from the Woodland "Daily Democrat," Wednesday, April 23, 2003, (Woodland, Yolo County, California). Submitted with the permission of the "The Daily Democrat," 711 Main St., Woodland, CA 95695. <http://www.dailydemocrat.com/>; Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)
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