Yolanda "Mary" (Orabona) Balestracci, 94, of New Bedford passed away Monday October 4, 2021 after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Davis Balestracci.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Antonia (Sbrocchi) Orabona, she lived in New Bedford all of her life.
Mrs. Balestracci was formerly employed as a service representative for the Social Security Administration until her retirement.
Mary was an active parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church, where she was a member of the church choir and the Women’s League. She was awarded the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River for her faithful service to her parish. She had also been a member of the Sons of Italy.
She is survived by her children, Davis Balestracci, Jr. and his wife Debra Yoo, and Judith Besse and her husband William; five grandchildren, Julia Balestracci and her husband Senthil Kumar, Andrea Hostetler and her husband James, Susannah Balestracci and her husband Patrick Conway, Justin Besse and his fiancée Chelsea Marshall, and Nathan Besse and his wife Katrina; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom referred to her affectionately as "Aunt Bibs."
She was the sister of the late Louise “Jeanna” Parkinson, Olga Cardullo, Joseph Orabona, Adeline Orabona, and Elvira Furlani.
Her Funeral will be held on Saturday October 9, 2021 at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church at 9 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday October 8th from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.