Obituary of Luigi Balestra

Click here for the link to the stream of the Funeral Mass: https://joyfulfilms.com/portfolio/funeral-mass-of-luigi-balestra/

Luigi Balestra, age 89, formerly of the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, PA passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, November 28, 2022.

He was born in Paternopoli, Italy (Avellino) on February 25, 1933, the son of the late Silvio and Filomena (Forino) Balestra.

He emigrated from Italy to Canada when he was just a young man. He worked in gold and copper mines in North Quebec, a restaurant in Pointe Claire, and held numerous other jobs until he met his sweetheart and married Mary Blasi in 1957.

Luigi lived most of his life in Roxborough until 2020 when he moved to Providence Place Senior Living at the Collegeville Inn. He was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. He was a hard-working and social man who enjoyed gardening, walking, helping others, going to the Roxborough YMCA, and most of all, spending time with his family.  He celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary with Mary in February. He loved his wife dearly. Luigi was employed by Botany 500, Penn Reels, as well as becoming an entrepreneur with Pride Cleaners, a dry cleaning and alteration business and a Moms pizza shop.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (Blasi) Balestra of Collegeville; son, Silvio (& Kathleen) Balestra of Trappe; daughter, Marisa Balestra of Trooper; two sisters, Anna Balestra and Maria Cresta; and two grandchildren Nicholas and Christine. He is predeceased by his brothers Angelo, Felix and Antonio and his sister Fiorentina Aliasi.

His Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:30 AM from St. Eleanor's RC Church, 647 Locust Street, Collegeville, PA 19426.

Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing on Friday morning from10:30 AM to 11:15 AM at the Church.

Entombment will take place in St. Matthew's Mausoleum, Conshohocken, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to: Providence Place Senior Living Connections Activities Fund, 4000 Ridge Pike, Collegeville PA 19426.