Obituary: Balzert, Mary Dell (Hood)
Mary died at home in Nine Mile Falls, WA, August 4, 2012 after a 15 month battle with COPD and Cancer.
Mary, known to her grandchildren and many of their friends and their parents as “Oma”, was born October 30, 1942 in Statesboro, GA. She is survived by her husband of 47 years Hal Balzert; a son, Brian Balzert (Heidi) of Spokane and daughter Nicole LaBelle (Larry) of Nine Mile Falls.
Grandsons: Tylor and Mason LaBelle of Nine Mile Falls and Couper and Brian Balzert, Jr., both of Spokane.
Bonus grandsons: Ricky LaBelle of Nine Mile Falls and Tanner LaBelle of Spokane Valley.
Brothers: David Hood (Nettie) of Pooler, GA and Jerome Hood of Statesboro, GA. Sisters: Myra Oglesby of Werner Robbins, GA and Julieta Hood of Statesboro, GA. Mary was born to a farm community where her early years were spent picking cotton and stringing tobacco.
After her marriage to Hal in 1965, while he was serving in the Air Force, they moved north.
They started their family while living in Virginia and later moved to Connecticut where the children grew up.
Mary and Hal Moved to Spokane in 1989 living in the Ponderosa area of the Spokane Valley until moving to Nine Mile Falls in 2004.
Mary’s favorite pastimes were reading and working on her yard flowers.
Her greatest joy was any activity with her grandchildren.
Special thanks is extended to Hospice of Spokane for the very special care that they provided during this long past year and to the parish family of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church for so much love and support through this trying time.
We also thank all of our friends and family both near and far for all of the prayers and encouragement provided.
A “Celebration of the Life” for the friends of Hal and Mary, will be conducted on August 25, 2012 at 1:00PM at her daughter’s home, in Nine Mile Falls.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, 1004 E. 8th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202 or Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Building Fund, P.O.
Box 447, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026.