Obituary of Mildred Balsamel

Beloved mother and grandmother, Mildred Greiner Balsamel, 91, died peacefully at her home of 62 years in Basking Ridge, NJ on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. Born in Pequannock to Otto R. and Aline Greiner, Mildred moved to Bernardsville in 1925, where she met her wonderful friend and future sister-in-law, Mary Balsamel (Saviola). She had a wonderful childhood, despite living through the hardships of the Depression. She loved playing piano, was very active behind the scenes in theater productions, and graduated from Bernards High School, earning her varsity letter in field hockey and the Math Prize. Mildred worked as a secretary for Newark College of Engineering, now NJIT, as a young woman. During World War II, Mildred donated blood in the name of Jim Balsamel, her friend Mary's older brother, a young architect. They started a correspondence resulting in their marriage in 1946, ultimately settling in Basking Ridge in the beautiful modern home Jim designed for his young family. Mildred devoted her life to her family and community, was active at St. Mark's Church in many capacities, was a Brownie leader and a Cub Scout den mother, a neighborhood Sewing Circle member, and spent many hours raising money for various charities, especially March of Dimes. Predeceased by her devoted husband Jim in 1996, Mildred is survived by her loving children, Carol Beaver; Richard Balsamel and his wife Trudy; and Linda Bond; along with five grandchildren and one great granddaughter; her sister-in-law Mary Saviola, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Services were private. Donations may be made in Mildred's memory to The Smile Train.