- Date Of Birth: April 5, 1952
- Date Of Death: January 5, 2022
- State: Illinois
Margaret Mary “Mags” (Underhill) Balestri, 69, of LaSalle, passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at St. Margaret’s Health, Peru surrounded by her loving family. Mags was born April 5, 1952, in Morris to Robert and Edna (Miesen) Underhill.
She was a graduate of St. Patrick’s Grade School and Marquette Academy, Ottawa. She was a proud Crusader, graduating on scholarship. Mags later attended Chicago College of Commerce Court Reporting School. She was a certified court reporter who worked for the 13th Judicial Circuit for many years. She also worked as a private reporter taking depositions for various area attorneys. Mags married William P. Balestri on October 19, 1979, at St. Columba Catholic Church, Ottawa. Besides her career, she was active in her children’s lives and schooling. She was a member and president of LaSalle Catholic PTO and also a board member and president of the LaSalle Catholic School Board. She participated in and helped organize a number of fundraisers for LaSalle Catholic Schools. She was also heavily involved in SPEC during its years at St. Patrick’s. She was a member of Zonta and the Certified Shorthand Reporter’s Association of Illinois.
In her spare time, Mags loved her coffee nights with her LaSalle friends. She enjoyed gathering with Ottawa friends and visitors from out of state. She also enjoyed her vacations to Eagle River, Wisconsin. Mags was a loving and fiercely loyal mother to her children. She actively supported them in their time at St. Bede Academy, even though she remained a loyal Crusader. She brought the same love and loyalty to her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, William; four children, Michael (Courtney) Balestri of Oglesby, Mark (Emily) Balestri of Peru, Luke Balestri of Chicago, and Gina (Hayley) Balestri of Moline; her beloved grandchildren, Ava, Landon, Logan, Bradyn, Lily and Nolan Balestri; a brother, Patrick (Patricia) Underhill of Oswego; brothers-in-law, Charles Balestri of Princeton, NJ, John (Maria) Balestri of LaSalle and Kent (Jeanette) Schroeder of Mascoutah; sister-in-law, Jo Ann Underhill of Ottawa and countless nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Ian Mark Balestri; a brother, Jerry Underhill; her father and mother-in-law, Aldo and Secondena “Dena” Balestri and sisters-in-law, Mary Schroeder, Diane Balestri, and Mary Ann Underhill.
