GIZELLA ELIZABETH BALSAT (nee Tricsko), lovingly called "Gizzie" by her brothers and sisters (and "Auntie Gay" or "Gay" by almost everyone else) passed away peacefully at the Welsh Home on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. She was born on December 10, 1923 in Cleveland to parents, Esther Kiss and Louie Tricsko who immigrated to the United States from Bodrogkeresztur, Hungary. They had six children: Louis "Louey" (Rose Jurkowski), Steve (Helen Breznay), John (Mary Dohanyos), Esther (Peter Hamm), Julius (Veronica Hamm), and Gizella (Gustav Balsat).

Gizella, the youngest, graduated from West Tech High School on January 26, 1943 and secured a job at the Erie Railroad doing clerical work. She worked there for 10-1/2 years.

One of the girls who worked with Gizella at the Erie Railroad was getting married, and it was at her wedding that Gizella met Gustav Balsat (from Fostoria, OH). Gustav worked at Union Paper and Twine (later bought out by Mead Paper). Gizella and Gustav married in 1947 and rented a house on West 47th Street in Cleveland. Gizella then got a job at the Sperry-Rand Company (later named Dunlop Tire) for 2 years. In 1951, Gizella and Gustav moved to Poinciana. In 1953, they had their only child, Christopher Jon Balsat and then bought a home in Seven Hills.

Once Chris went to high school at St. Ignatius, Gizella got a job at Ohio Bell.

Gustav passed away very suddenly on January 11, 1975, and Gizella then moved to a condo in Addington Place across from the old Westgate Mall in Fairview Park, where she lived until April 2024. She became a faithful member of St. Angela Merici Parish in1976, and then she retired from Ohio Bell in 1989 after 16-1/2 years of work.

In her retirement, Gizella enjoyed time at the Gemini Senior Center on Lorain, played pinochle with a group of close friends, traveled abroad with her sister Esther, and spent lots of time with her family. Gizella enjoyed reading mysteries and espionage and she also loved to watch Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and she loved watching the Browns and Guardians and televised golf matches, too. Gizella loved family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving at the Hamms' with a turkey fresh from Kauffman's Poultry at the West Side Market, and Christmas at her son's house (complete with her own famous "apple squares").

Her only son, Christopher, passed away in December of 2020.

Gizella is survived by her daughter-in-law, Dorrine (Mirenda) Balsat; two grandchildren, Erin Short (Douglas) and Ayler Evan Balsat and her two great-grandchildren, Calvin Speicher and Ryan Speicher; nieces Mary Ann Sotero (Jose), Steffi Strelec (Dick), and Sister Joanne Trickso; nephews Dennis Tricsko (Valerie), Louis Tricsko and James Tricsko, nieces-in-law, Bobbi Hamm (Peter) and Ann Stankiewicz; grand-nephews Geoff (Renita) Hamm and Tom (Carrie) Hamm; several great-grand-nephews and nieces, and also special friends Beth and Ann McNamara.

When asked her "secret" to a long and happy life, Gizella replied:

"Eat good food, take everything in moderation, and keep a positive attitude."

Funeral Mass Wednesday, February 26, St. Angela Merici Church (20970 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park) at 10 A.M.  Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.  Friends may call at CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of CLEVELAND, 4420 ROCKY RIVER DR. AT PURITAS, WEDNESDAY 9-9:30 A.M.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Monastery of the Poor Clares, 3501 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland, OH 44111.