Obituary for Claudette Nancy Balamut (Pace)
Balamut, Claudette Nancy (Pace) “Claudie”
Died Jan 14, age 89, in Chisago City, after living for many years in Columbia Heights. Preceded in death by husband Bill Balamut, parents Neil and Helen Pace, stepfather Pat Pelland and sister Joanne Pace Porter. Survived by children Chris (Julie) Balamut, Andrea (Jack) Solem and Sandra (Gene) Friberg, 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and cousin Richard Flynn. Claudie grew up in Minneapolis where she learned to sew, type, sing and play the piano. After graduating from Roosevelt HS in 1948, she worked at the U of M where she met Bill. They married in 1950, and Claudie became a full-time mom, sewing the kids’ clothes and serving as a scout leader. In 1971, she went to work for Midland Cooperative where she stayed till retiring in 1987. Among her hobbies, Claudie loved to read, watch old movies, travel and spend time with family and friends. At Immaculate Conception Church, she played piano and organ and performed as the hilariously un-gifted singer “Mrs. Miller” in the annual IC Follies. She also gave piano lessons to nearly all her grandchildren, who provided Claudie years of pride and joy as proven by the stack of programs and the hundreds of photos from their concerts, plays and graduations. After Bill died in 2012, Claudie moved first into senior living at Parmly on the Lake and then into memory care for her final years. The family wishes to thank the Parmly staff and the Ecumen Hospice nurses who guided Claudie’s transition. She has been buried with Bill at Fort Snelling, and a memorial service will be held later this spring through Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel.
Died Jan 14, age 89, in Chisago City, after living for many years in Columbia Heights. Preceded in death by husband Bill Balamut, parents Neil and Helen Pace, stepfather Pat Pelland and sister Joanne Pace Porter. Survived by children Chris (Julie) Balamut, Andrea (Jack) Solem and Sandra (Gene) Friberg, 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and cousin Richard Flynn. Claudie grew up in Minneapolis where she learned to sew, type, sing and play the piano. After graduating from Roosevelt HS in 1948, she worked at the U of M where she met Bill. They married in 1950, and Claudie became a full-time mom, sewing the kids’ clothes and serving as a scout leader. In 1971, she went to work for Midland Cooperative where she stayed till retiring in 1987. Among her hobbies, Claudie loved to read, watch old movies, travel and spend time with family and friends. At Immaculate Conception Church, she played piano and organ and performed as the hilariously un-gifted singer “Mrs. Miller” in the annual IC Follies. She also gave piano lessons to nearly all her grandchildren, who provided Claudie years of pride and joy as proven by the stack of programs and the hundreds of photos from their concerts, plays and graduations. After Bill died in 2012, Claudie moved first into senior living at Parmly on the Lake and then into memory care for her final years. The family wishes to thank the Parmly staff and the Ecumen Hospice nurses who guided Claudie’s transition. She has been buried with Bill at Fort Snelling, and a memorial service will be held later this spring through Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel.