Gloria Ann (Deja) Balistrieri

Gloria Ann Balistrieri (Deja), 87 of Milwaukee, WI, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at her home surrounded by her family in prayerful songs led by her husband, Ignatius.

Gloria, eldest of six children with parents Steve Deja and Adeline (Kelenhofer), was born on March 24, 1937 in Milwaukee, WI. She attended St Joseph's grade school, moved to St Casimir's for 9th grade and graduated from Messmer High school in 1955.

On June 22, 1957, Gloria married the love of her life, Ignatius Balistrieri.  Gloria and Iggie met at the age of 14 while attending St Casimir's school and dated throughout their high school years.  Soon after marriage, she devoted her time and dedication to raising a faith-filled family at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Milwaukee. Her faith life was at the center of all her endeavors from involvement in the Milwaukee Cursillo Movement, the Christian Family Movement (CFM), while initiating and coordinating a preschool religious education program for 15 years.  

Loving, faith-filled and dedicated Wife, Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, who willingly shared her love of the Lord. Her passion for helping others and her simple blind faith has been her gift to all of us.

Gloria was blessed and grateful to have shared her life with her husband of sixty-seven years, Iggie; children, Carlo (Sharon), Rosemarie Von Rueden (Jim), Stephen (Denise), Margaret Von Rueden (John), Pamela Volk (Randy), Christina Poulos (Gus), Andrew (Manilath) and precious Jessica; thirty grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren and counting; her sister Linda Zabel (Fred); brother in-law Larry Pizzino.  

She is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings; Janet Koreen, Mary Miller, Judy Pizzino and Thomas Deja.

Gloria Ann Balistrieri's, Celebration of Life will be hosted by Jelacic Funeral Home at Blessed Savior Parish, 8545 W Villard Ave, Milwaukee, WI on Saturday, April 20, 2024.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM.   Procession to Holy Cross Cemetery after Mass where final place of rest will be in its mausoleum.            

The Balistrieri Family requests memorials to Prolife Wisconsin (https://www.prolifewi.org) or the Downs Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (https://www.dsaw.org).

Many thanks for the support of Horizon Hospice and Touching Hearts at Home care teams, who have been instrumental in providing compassionate care for Gloria.

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