Marguerite Marie [Peyzaret] Balcavage

Marguerite Marie [Peyzaret] Balcavage

Pottsville, PA

Mrs. Marguerite M. Balcavage, 84, of Pottsville, formerly of Minersville, passed away Monday at Schuylkill Center. Born in Cannes, France, on April 6, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Antoine and Anne Chotti Peyzaret. Her husband, Paul, passed away in 1978. She was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ, Minersville, and the Retired Nurses Association. She was employed at Allied Chemical as a quality control supervisor before retiring. She attended the University of Algiers, majoring in chemistry, and also two years of medi- cal school in France. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Danielle Jacqueline Derfler, and a brother, Jean Peyzaret. Surviving are two daughters, Monique Derfler, wife of John Derfler, Lebanon, and Jacqueline Greis, wife of Paul Greis, Key West, Fla.; a son, Paul Balcavage, husband of Terry Balcavage, Easton; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Smith, Ryan Derfler, Daren Derfler, Willie Madrigal, Maggie Madrigal, Joesph Thompson, Krista Flowers and her angel, Danielle. She also had seven great-grandchildren. Marguerite loved and was very proud of her family and friends. She is best remembered for her French cooking, intimate conversations and time she spent playing cards with her family and friends. She enjoyed reading, watching movies and sending e-mails to her family and friends around the world. She considered herself blessed to maintain a strong relationship with her French family and visited them many times throughout her life, most recently in September 2007 with her children and their spouses. Although Marguerite was from France, she considered herself an American and became a U.S. citizen in 1956. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville, with the Rev. Rick Kantner officiating. Friends may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 7 to 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Mount Peace Cemetery, Branch Township. Sign the guest book at republicanherald.com

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