Rita E. (Balardini) Sorel, 85, of 861 Monticelli Drive, Gilroy, CA, a former long time resident of North Adams, MA, died on May 13, 2007 in Gilroy, CA.
She was born in Adams, MA, on February 25, 1922, the daughter of John and Rose (Albertazzi) Balardini. She attended Adams schools and worked as an assembler for Sprague Electric Company in North Adams, MA, retiring in 1984 with 29 years of service.
Louis Sorel, whom she married on November 26, 1945, died on October 3, 1987. Mrs. Sorel moved to Gilroy in 1999 to be near her daughter Louise and her family.
She leaves one son, John A. Sorel, and his wife Carol E. (Dickinson) Sorel, of Fairfield, Connecticut and Louise T. Fortin, and her husband Arthur W. Fortin of Gilroy, four grandchildren: Renee A. (Sorel) Moore and her husband Chad Moore of Kennesaw, Georgia, John D. Sorel, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Joseph W. Fortin and his wife Amanda (Fortino) Fortin of Gilroy and Amy Marie Fortin, of San Jose. She is survived by one sister, Viola (Balardini) Vella of Great Barrrington, MA. Mrs. Sorel is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Helen (Sorel) Cleary Shephard of North Adams, MA and Margaret (Pitoniak) Balardini of Adams, MA, a Godson, David Kittler of Adams, MA and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Sorel was predeceased by four brothers: Ugo Balardini, Arthur Balardini, Ermio Balardini and Ned Balardini, as well as five sisters: Dahlia (Dolly) Perego, Annunciata (Sondrini) Patenaude, Ida Kittler, Anna Wandrei, and Florina (Chia) DiAngelis Duda.
Mrs. Sorel was a loving mother and devoted grandmother. She was a member of the Catholic Ladies Aid Society and also Women in Touch (WIT) of Gilroy. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, Gilroy.
There will be no local services. A memorial service will be held in Massachusetts. Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105, (http://www.stjude.org) or St. Joseph’s Family Center, 7950 Church Street, Gilroy, CA 95020.
