Whitney E. Balakier

Whitney Elizabeth Balakier, 5, of 23 Paugussett Road, Sandy Hook, Newtown, died January 21 at Danbury Hospital with her loving family by her side.

She was born in Bridgeport on February 9, 1994, a daughter of Douglas F. and Kathryn (Lewis) Balakier. She was a resident of Sandy Hook all of her life.

Born with a condition known as holoproencephaley, Whitney captured the hearts of everyone who met her. Last year community rallied to raise the money to get a handicapped accessible van for her family.

 Besides her parents, Whitney is survived by a brother, Nicholas; a sister, Dana; her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth  (Robaczynski) Lewis of Shelton; her paternal grandparents, Theodore and Beatrice Balakier of Stratford; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her paternal grandfather, Thomas J. Lewis.

Funeral services were held at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, with the Rev William J. Killeen, pastor of St Jude Church, Derby, officiating. Private burial was in Riverside Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

At the request of the family, memorial contributions may be made to W.I.N. Foundation, PO Box 1125, Bethel, CT 06801.

The Newtown Bee         January 28, 2000