Margaret Balzi

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Longtime Staten Islander Margaret Balzi, 82, of Dongan Hills, a former insurance agent, died Wednesday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Born Margaret Britlan in Fall River, Mass., she moved to Staten Island in 1936, settling in Stapleton. She graduated from McKee High School and moved to Dongan Hills in 1954.

She worked as an insurance agent for 16 years with the Twins Agency, retiring in 1992.

In her leisure time, Mrs. Balzi enjoyed gardening, keeping birds as pets, knitting and spending time with her grandchildren.

Her son, Peter Balzi, said she was very proud of her four grandchildren.

Mrs. Balzi was a parishioner of St. Ann's R.C. Church, Dongan Hills.

Her husband of 38 years, Peter, died in 1992.

In addition to her son, Peter, Mrs. Balzi is survived by a daughter, Deborah Carrigan; three brothers James, John and Thomas Westgate; a sister, Rita Barnes, and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Ann's Church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Services: St. Ann's RC Church Monday, August 13,2012 10:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Saturday, August 11,2012 2-4 & 7-9PM & Sunday, August 12,2012 2-4 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: St. Ann's RC Church