ONEONTA – Patricia A. "Patsy" Balnis, 68, passed away Sunday, February 6, 2011 at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born October 29, 1942 in Oneonta, the daughter of John and Rachael (Wakin) Weitzel.

Patsy married Wayne Balnis on October 29, 1960 in Oneonta.

She was employed for BOCES in Stamford for 32 years as a Licensed Teaching Assistant and also worked for ARC Otsego, where she loved working with and assisting the residents.

Patsy enjoyed dancing, listening to her granddaughter Caryn sing, cooking, reading, going to the local baseball games, trips to casinos, playing the slot machines and bowling with the ladies on Monday night bowling league.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and her husbands "little angel" and will be dearly missed.

Survivors are her husband of 50 years, Wayne Balnis Sr. of Oneonta; children, Wayne and Carla Balnis Jr. of Oneonta, Sherry and Brian Pidgeon of Oneonta and Laurie and Stephen Page of Maryland; grandchildren, Joseph and Caryn Balnis; a mother-in-law, Florence Balnis; a sister, Mary and Dan Tranvaag of Oneonta; a brother, Sam and Joyce Weitzel of Oneonta; sister-in-law, Barbara and Dewey Rogers of Oneonta; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; her special friends, Millard and Dottie Hurlbert and her beloved dog, Black Velvet.

She was predeceased by her parents and father-in-law, Joseph Balnis.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 11th at the funeral home, with the Deacon James Konicki, Pasty's nephew, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations in loving memory of Patsy can be made to ARC Otsego, PO Box 490, Oneonta, NY 13820 or to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY 13790.

Online condolences may sent to www.lhpfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the guidance of Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.