Ella R. (Los) Balchunas

Huntington - Ella R. Balchunas, 96, was born on July 20, 1921 to Walter and Victoria Los of Warren, MA. When WWII began, Ella joined the Marines, and was with the first women’s division to be stationed at Quantico Virginia.   She was a sergeant, and served in the clerical corp.  After the war, Ella married Charles Balchunas and they had two children, Bruce and Karen.  Ella was a working mother.  She became a licensed social worker for the then Department of Public Welfare, and eventually held the position of supervisor until her retirement.

Ella was a pillar of her communities and of her churches.  She lived in Warren all her life, until she moved to Huntington, to be near her family.  First in Warren, and then in Huntington, Ella served on town committees, and worked tirelessly for her church.  No one will ever forget her pies!  Ella passed away peacefully on November 8th, 2017 at the Holyoke Soldier’s Home after a short illness.  Ella leaves behind a son and daughter, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, as well as her brother and sister, and a legion of nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but she takes with her the love and affection of everyone who knew her. Semper Fi.

“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the sky on laughter-silvered wings

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds.”

A Memorial Service for Ella will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 10:00AM in the First Congregational Church of Huntington at Norwich Hill, 6 Searle Rd., in Huntington, MA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ladies Aid Society, First Congregational Church of Huntington at Norwich Hill, 6 Searle Rd., Huntington, MA 01050.  Varnum Funeral Home, Inc., 43 East Main St., in West Brookfield is assisting her family with arrangements.

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