Age 60, of O'Fallon, Ill. passed away Friday, October 30, 2009 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. He was born May 21, 1949 in Pittsburgh, Penna. to the late Joseph W. and Josephine (nee Leonardo) Balana. Besides his parents he is preceded in death by brother Nicholas J. Balana and father-in-law John Ferencz.

Mr. Balana retired in 1989 from the U. S. Air Force and was currently employed at Scott Air Force Base. He was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in O'Fallon and VFW Post 2280 in Bellevue, Neb.

Surviving is his wife, Joanne (nee Ferencz) Balana of O'Fallon, Ill., his mother-in-law, Dorothy Ferencz Kapral of Pittsburgh, three brothers-in-law, John G. Ferencz of Harrisburg, Penna., Thomas R. Ferencz of Pittsburgh and David J. Ferencz of Allentown, Penna.; and sister-in-law, Donna P. Balana of Pittsburgh. Also surviving is one nephew, Christopher M. Balana of Pittsburgh and one niece, Lisa A. Borodaty of California,

Memorials may be made to St. Nicholas Catholic Church Building Fund or in the form of masses.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in O'Fallon.


Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Wed., Nov. 4, 2009, with Msgr. William Hitpas presiding. Burial will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pennsylvania.