Monday, March 18, 2019
Dear Mary, Joseph & Irene, Kathy, Joseph III, John & Andrea, Jack & Rozalyn and Mary Gunther...All the Balog Family in Conn; and in Georgia.
I am offering my heartfelt prayers and condolences at Aunt Fran's passing, last April 21, 2018. I have only recently learned of this by a letter a good friend and fellow retired Sheriff, sent an incomplete obituary to me in New Hampshire. It was only a short paragraph cut out of the Bridgeport Post, without a publication date or a page on it. I am praying that you all will forgive me for the belated condolences which I am offering each of you, long distance from up here in West Lebanon, N.H. If I would have known much earlier, last April, I would have made travel arrangements to drive down to visit you all and stay for the visitation and the memorial service.
Looking back towards my childhood years, when my parents and I moved in the first floor with Uncle George Balog, on Fairfield Ave. Mary, Kathy and Joe lived with your parents, my Uncle Joe and Aunt Fran on the 2nd floor. I was still in Black Rock School, back in 1962 - 63. Remembered all the years we shared the major holidays together, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years and the 4th of July Cookouts. Your Mother, my Aunt Fran was a very good cook as well as a very gracious hostess. The fun we all had, when Uncle George took us kids to the Beach at St. Mary's by the Sea off Gilman St. Or we would drive down to Seaside Park. Uncle George would treat us to Ice Cream, Soda and Hot Dogs too. Do you remember the Barnum and Baily Circus that used to be there in the Summers? The Midway Rides? Remember the St. Ann's Church Carnivals ? And the large Lionel model railroad we built in the basement. I also built a large HO Scale layout there too. All Good memories...
Years later my family moved to Courtland Ave. and finally to Quinlan Ave., further out towards St. Mary's area in Black Rock. Remember the big family reunion when all my Father's Brothers, Your Father, my Uncle Joe, and the families got together for a big Family Reunion at my parents place, think in the Summer of either 1968 or 1969... That was the first time they all got together since the end of WW 2. I remember, going to Mary's Wedding, and that you Mary, Uncle Joe, Aunt Franie, Think Kathy and Joe too went to my Wedding... that was years after my own parents passed on. Some years later my new wife and I moved to upper VT. My Divorce brought me to N.H. I am sorry, that we drifted apart over the years... due to my career in law enforcement and the military. It has been 37 years since my own parents, Michael and Olga Balog passed away, as well as Uncle George Balog back in 1982. You were all very kind to me during that time of such sorrow and I appreciated your prayers and support. Now, decades later, I offer my prayers to all of you and my belated support from afar up here in the middle of New Hampshire. Now in my 68 th year, after surviving a near fatal heart attack a few years ago, I am wishing you all peace, the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that passes all human understanding till we meet again... Your Cousin....
~ Mike ~
Mike Balog
P.O. Box 5003
West Lebanon, N.H. 03784
mbnh.1950@yahoo.com
Monday, March 18, 2019.
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