Maria Balistreri

Maria Balistreri, Independence, MO passed away Aug. 17, 2005 at St. Mary�s Hospital of Blue Springs. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 am, Sat., Aug. 20, 2005 at St. Mark�s Catholic Church in Independence. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Jason Balistreri, Brett Villanueva, Brandon Becker, Jon-Erik Wright, Christopher Becker, Salvatore Balistreri and Steven Wright. Entombment will be at Mt. Olivet Mausoleum. Visitation will be 5 - 7 pm, Friday at the church followed by the Rosary at 7 pm. The family suggests contributions to St. Mark�s Catholic Church, where she was a member. Maria was born Feb. 9, 1932 in Palermo, Sicily. In 1947, she married and came to America with her family. Maria was preceded in death by her husband Domenico (Mimmo) Balistreri, and her mother, Frances Brunetto. She is survived by daughter Margaret Wright and husband, Thomas, San Antonio, TX; son Sam Balistreri and wife Peggy, Indep., MO; son Rick Balistreri and wife Vickie, K.C., MO; daughters Frances Villanueva and husband Leo, Round Rock, TX; Grace Becker, Indep., MO; Angelina Berte and husband David, Austin, TX; sister Grace Kolenda and husband Tom, Lee�s Summit, MO; fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.