Obituary of Mildred Balisen Orzolek

Mildred Balisen Orzolek, 81, of Moosic, and a former resident of Clarks Summit for many years, entered into eternal rest on Monday morning at Regional Hospital of Scranton. On Oct. 27, 2016, she lost her beloved husband, Walter P., and together they celebrated 53 years of marriage.

Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Susan Masich Balisen. She was a passionate and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. Upon her graduation, with high commercial honors as the salutatorian of Scranton Technical High School class of 1954, she was a bookkeeper with Man, Levy and Nogi. After raising her family, she was the secretary to the director of transportation and the director of athletics for the Abington Heights School District for many years. When her sons were growing up, Millie was very active in the PTA and served on numerous fundraising committees in the Abington Heights School District. A faithful parishioner of St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, Scranton, she held offices and was a member of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Youth, Altar Society and various church boards. She was also named Miss A.C.R.Y. in 1958. 

She is survived by three sons, Douglas C., Ph.D., and wife, Amy, Burnsville, Minn., and their children, Megan F. and Benjamin C.; Jeffrey P. and wife, Jenny, Blacksburg, Va., and their son, Jake; Scott W.; J.D. and fiancée, Matrix, Allendale, Mich.; her loving sisters, Carol Sakulich; Lorraine Kacaba and husband, Joseph, both of Clarks Summit; and Sonia Goosley and husband, Theodore, Binghamton, N.Y.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

She was also preceded in death by her brother, Michael and a brother-in-law, John Sakulich.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Saturday, June 2, at 9:15 a.m. from the Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor, followed by services to be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, 505 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, by the Rev. Daniel Vaskalis. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery, Taylor. 

Family and friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Panachida services will be at 6:45 p.m. 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, 621 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510.