Gladys L. Balas

Gladys L. Balas, 90

Poland…Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9:15 a.m. at the Wasko Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Parish, with Monsignor William Connell officiating, for Gladys L. Balas, 90, who passed away Saturday evening.

Gladys, or Sister, as she was known to family and many friends, was born August 25, 1926, in Youngstown, the daughter of John and Julia Onder Wasko.

She graduated from Campbell Memorial High School in 1943, where she was a cheerleader, and then attended Youngstown Business College.  Gladys worked briefly at Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. and Kraft Foods, where she met her future husband, Cyril A. Balas.  Gladys and Cy married on April 7, 1951, and were married for 63 years until his death on December 28, 2014.

Gladys and Cy were charter parishioners of Holy Family Parish, and she was a former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Campbell.

Gladys was a homemaker and craftswoman, and for many years bowled in several area leagues, most recently with the Wednesday Idlers at the Holiday Bowl.   She was also a lifelong fan of the Cleveland Indians.

Gladys will be deeply missed by her daughter, Kathleen (Leo J.) Lucisano of Cary, NC; her three grandchildren, Leo C. Lucisano (fiancee Victoria Ryan) of New York, Julie Lucisano (partner Tobyn Peterson) of Portland, Oregon,  and Michael (wife Ashley) Lucisano of Raleigh, NC; her sister, Virginia Gorski of Poland; and many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and cousins.

 Besides her parents and her husband, Cyril, Gladys was preceded in death by her brother, Jack Wasko.  

The family wishes to thank the nurses, aides, staff, and doctors at St. Elizabeth's Youngstown for their caring during the last days of Gladys' life.  

The Balas family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home and will receive family and friends Friday from 6-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

 Service Information