Gloria Jean Ballerini

Gloria Jean Ballerini, 92, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, June 3, 2018 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am, Saturday, June 9 at St. Francis of Assisi Church with Rev. Corey Krengiel officiating. Visitation will be from 9 - 10 am, prior to the services, Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Gloria was born July 25, 1925 in Standard, Illinois to Sylvio and Clelia (Chilletti) Cioni. She married Ferdinando Ballerini on March 12, 1944 at St. Mary's Church in Naplate; he passed away March 6, 2009.

Gloria retired from LaSalle County Nursing Home after 11 years; she worked as a CNA then as head of social services. She and her husband were the groundskeepers for Saint Mary's Church in Naplate for 40 years. Gloria loved gardening and animals. She was a member of St. Francis Church and a former member of the Saint Mary Altar and Rosary Society.

She is survived by three children, Dr. Fred (Lynda) Ballerini of Jackson, WI; Arlene (Richard) Esgate of San Diego, CA; and Dr. Gloria (Mark) Prince of Ottawa; thirteen grandchildren, Billy (Sue) Ballerini, Joshua (Amanda) Lahr, Amanda (Justin) Montello, Aaron (Nicole) Lahr, Michael (Mahshad) Lynott, Matthew (Amber) Lynott, and Nate (Lindsey) Lynott, Rachel (Omar) Santiago, Michael Borrelli, Ryan (Lorraine) Esgate, Michelle Prince, Mallory Prince, and Marlley (Erik) Vavra; and 22 great-grandchildren, Addisyn, Carmine, Aria, Summer, Sebastian, Michaela, Mitchell, Audrey, Nolan, Weston, Mack, Clark, Benji, Dustyn, Isaac, Lula, Colt, Knox, Sydney, Landon, Evee, and Lucy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and six siblings, Annie, Vince, Johnny, Nora, Guy, and Maria.

Pallbearers will be Fred Ballerini, Billy Ballerini, Richard Esgate, Michael Lynott, Matthew Lynott, and Nate Lynott.

Memorials may be directed to the family.