Kathleen (Smith) Balsamo

 Kathleen M. (Smith) Balsamo, 75, of Princeton, passed away peacefully with her husband and children by her side on Saturday, January 27th 2018 at her winter home in Largo, FL, after a very long fight with COPD and Alzheimer’s disease Born September 8, 1942 in Worcester, to Andrew and Genevieve Smith, Kathleen earned her  degree in Microbiology and also studied Mycology at California State University,  Long Beach. She had a long Medical laboratory career at several military hospitals and was Laboratory Director at the Fort Carson Army Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO, before retiring. Outside of work, Kathleen had many interests; In sports it was tennis, skiing, SCUBA diving, and bowling. She never stopped.  Kathleen was excellent at needlepoint, painting, and jewelry making. As a youth she excelled at science winning multiyear science fairs at the local and state level.  Kathleen also judged the science fairs in Worcester for many years. Most important, she loved to travel and was fortunate enough to have seen most National Parks, many countries including all of Europe and the far east, South America, and Australia. She was extremely devoted to her children and so very proud of all of their accomplishments. Kathleen is best known by her grandchildren for her simple philosophy, “Life is Choices”, and “Get over it” Kathleen will be greatly missed by her husband Salvatore (“Sully”) Balsamo, as well as her son Daniel, her daughter Laura (Balsamo) Kuntz, and her daughter-in-law Janine, along with her ten grandchildren: Marissa, Madeline, and Lily Kuntz; Brittany, Kimberlee, and Luciano Balsamo; Danielle (Balsamo) Barbee;  Stephanie, Sara, and Hannah Roe.  She also leaves behind her brothers Robert, Paul and his wife Chris, William and his wife Pirada, her sister Jean and her husband Richard.  She was predeceased by her sister Anne and her brother David.  She also leaves behind her sisters-in-law Nancy Balsamo, Dolores Carlson, Diane Baxter and her husband Robert, and brother-in-law Ralph Balsamo and his wife Mary Ann. Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours Saturday, April 21st from 8:30 am to 10:30 am in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. prior to leaving in procession to St Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Turnpike Rd. Shrewsbury where her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am.  Burial of Ashes will follow in Mt View Cemetery.   For more information or to leave a message please refer  to www.mercadantefuneral.com.