Memories of Grandma Balza
(Mary Louise Leurquin Massey/Boncher Balza)

As a child, I have many fond memories of Grandma Balza. She was a stout woman, strict in disciplining us as children, but gentle in many unexpected ways, very patient and always smelling of fresh baked goods, bread, pies, etc. My favorite memories revolve around our visits to Grandma's house on Harvey Street. When Mom and Dad would pack us into the car head across town to Grandma's . She would always be waiting for us and welcome us with a warm hug and a big smile. All of her son's were married, and gone so she lived in a three room apartment with a large gas furnace against one wall. Grandma had a passion for playing cards. So whenever we visited we could count on playing cards with her. She's the person who taught us to play "Canasta" a game that was eagerly anticipated anytime she would visit us or we would visit her.

Since she was living alone, and Grandpa had died long ago, she was dependent upon her sons for income and for supplying her with food stuffs. It was always a treat to eat at her house, because you never knew what would be on the table. She was a great cook and loved to bake. She made the best bread, coolies and magnificent Belgian pie. I can remember one time when we sat down to lunch and had what looked like barbecued chicken, it tasted great and turned out to be squirrel. One of her son's had been hunting the week before and had provided three of the squirrels he had shot to improve her larder. This it turned ,out was not uncommon in those days (later fifties early sixties). Each of her sons had families of their own to feed, and cash wasn't always available, so they would provide what they could. I recall that my folks religiously set aside a portion of Dad's paycheck every month to support her. Another of our favorite dishes was "Chicken Booya". no one could make it as well as Grandma, she never measured anything just went by taste, and even though my Mom captured her recipe and it was good, it just couldn't compare with Grandma's.