Elvita Balli

ELVITA BALLI MCALLEN – Elvita Balli, 56, died Monday, March 3, 2014, in Pharr. She was born in Edinburg and had lived in Philadelphia, but grew up in Pharr. She had been living in McAllen since 1997. Elvita was an educator for 35 years, and was nominated Teacher of the Year 2013-2014; she was also grade level chairperson for several years, employee of the month for the past five years, as well as the art club sponsor. Elvita was a Special Education Resource Teacher for several years; she had served as a test administrator during State assessments. Elvita also tutored students after school and on Saturdays. She is preceded in death by her mother, Irene Balli; maternal grandparents, Plutarco and Refugia Rodriguez; paternal grandmother, Margarita Balli; an aunt, Elva Gonzalez; and a cousin, Antonio Gonzalez. Elvita is survived by a son, Adam Michael Gonzalez, of McAllen; father, Ruben Balli, Sr. of Pharr; a brother, Ruben (Magdeline) Balli, Jr. of New Orleans, Louisiana; two nephews, Ruben Balli III, Nicholas Edward Balli; three aunts, Mary (Sammy) Balli, Consuelo Rodriguez, both of Pharr, Delia (Ferafin) Avila, of Florida; an uncle, Humberto (Lucy) Balli of Pharr; and four cousins, David (Blanca) Balli, Aida (Joe) Galindo, Arturo Gonzalez, all of San Antonio, and Leticia (Ramiro) Cantu, of McAllen. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service, today March 6, 2014, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. at La Trinidad United Methodist Church in Pharr. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.