Carol A. Balstra

Carol Ann Balstra

Born April 3, 1943
Died September 23rd, 2009.

Carol Ann Balstra was born April 3, 1943 to Peter and Lucille Balstra. She was one of six children and grew up in Syracuse, NY. Carol's surviving siblings are Judith Napoli, Richard Balstra, and Donald Balstra. Her brother Robert and sister Beverly surely greeted her in heaven as the angels ushered her home to the lord September 23rd, 2009 at 8:29AM. Carol suffered for 10+ years with COPD, She struggled for many years to quit smoking, and in her final years she was smoke free. She shared only months ago that if she knew what smoking would really cost her, she would never indulged. I guess we all could live our lives better looking through a rear view mirror.

Surviving children Anthony Jesmer and Tammi Morris, Anthony and his wife Susan, have three children, Leah, Anna, and Andrew. Tammi and Shawn, also have three childre, Ashli, Colton, and Caleb.

When people think of Carol, they often think of butterflies, the long drives she loved to take, diet pepsi, the colors of autumn, her children, her grandchildren and her seemingly never ending suffering. Yet, I am sure those of us who knew her would agree, she made us laugh. This, I will miss.

I often referred to her relationship with her sisters, as comically affectionate.They poked fun at one another, but they also had a profound love that became very apparent to me, as Judy began to handle many of Mom's affairs in the last years of her life. She had a unique and meaningful relationship with each person in her life, and it is those memories recent or past that I pray sustain you.

It is safe to say Carol made quite an impression on everyone she met, and whether a short or long exchange with her, it could not be denied that she was a very giving and funny woman. She recently said she held on to a grudge longer than she should have and she hoped she could right the wrongs she had done, before her time was up. In her final days in her own way, she came to peace with it all. Her greatest regret would be the hurts she caused her children. However,her final days would prove than her ending was better than her beginning and she would know unconditional love and relationship unlike anytime before. She would also extend these which she was so freely given, to those she loved.

She never held onto material possessions tightly, for most of her life she had very little. Many would call her the QVC queen, even in that indulgence; she would find a way to bless someone else. Only days before she passed she gave away a candle that a little boy at the nursing home admired, when his mother brought him to visit with her. This little boy lights it every night and thinks of Carol's generosity. She did not hesitate to give away what she had to those she cared for.

She was outspoken, independent and many would say stubborn, but most of all those who intimately knew Carol, would say she was tender and loving.

She would come to learn that true love for another person, required sacrifice, a relinquishing of control and often time heartache, this would yield a blessing, as well. She would come to experience near the end of her life that "With God All Things Are Possible" and that the healing and unconditional love from her Heavenly Father, could indeed wipe away all of her tears of days gone by. Carol learned about a relationship with Jesus Christ, and not just another series of steps or even a religiosity that she knew that she could never measure up to. There is wisdom in this, because none of us can live up to perfection, but we can experience the love and transforming power of Christ. She spoke about this many times in her last months, it was the comfort of knowing that "He would never leave her or forsake her" and if she was the only person on the face of this earth, he would have died just for her. What a revelation for a woman who spent many years of her life feeling lonely and afraid. You could argue that her lonliness was self-inflicted, but the woman I knew, who transformed before my very eyes, was very much like you and I. We just want to love and be loved.

She used to sit in her recliner and sing aloud her favorites from the Gaither Brothers Gospel CD's she owned, and went to TV, Church every Sunday at Coral Ridge and some evenings with Joyce Meyer. She even sang songs of Praise to Jesus when she was in a "carbon coma"

She knew that her time was drawing near and was ready to go when he called. Not that she lived a life without many mistakes and regrets, but the blood of Christ, came into her heart and life and convinced her she was forgiven and clean. It was not until then, that she was truly able to do the same with others, who had wronged her. As Ma use to say " You can't give away what you don't have." So, in her last months, she came to a full understanding of the hurts caused to her and hers to others. She was no longer blinded or controlled by her own pain. She was finally free, fear of death ceased, regret was replaced with peace and sorrow with joy, and when she accepted Christ in April of 2009 and for the next six months she would exhibit "Evidence" of her own conversion.

I would like to think that as we watched her draw her last breath, that her loved ones in heaven, welcomed her, to the place where there are no more tears, no more pain and total peace and she saw Jesus face to face. I guess, I will not know for sure what her Welcome Home Party looked like, but I do know this, I am sure glad that the woman, who was called Carol Ann, Ma, Mom, Old Lady and Auntie Coo Coo is no longer in pain and is rejoicing in her resurrection body in heaven.

So if she helped you, helped someone else, in her memory. If she loved you, keep that close to your heart, If she hurt you, forgive her and in that forgiveness, you will find healing. If you feel regretful for something long past, know that she forgave you and put the matter to rest. If the last time you heard I love you from her, know that it still remains and will last until you see her again in Heaven.

A Prayer For Mom-
God Saw you getting tired Mom, and a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you and whispered "Carol Come To Me"
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away,
Although, we loved you dearly we could not make you stay
A golden heart stopped beating, a daughter, of the most high, was ushered into His Presence, and now we say Goodbye.
In our broken hearts God's proven, he only takes the best, now we take comfort in His healing balm and His Rest. So when you think of her, please Praise His name for she finally knows she is loved by Her Father in Jesus Name.

If you can, please join us for a service to honor her life on Monday September 28, 2009 10am at Abundant Life Christian Center, 7000 All Nations Blvd, East Syracuse, NY 13057

Donations can be made in her memory to Bridge of Hope of York County PO Box 20263 York PA 17402

In Christ's Love, I pray that you are comforted in your sorrow and rejoice in her homecoming.