Gina Balistreri,age 28 returned home to the Lord on January 15, 2013. She was born March 30, 1984 to Suzi (Macar) and Lenny Balistreri, Tampa, Florida.

Gina showed an interest in music at an early age and began taking piano and violin lessons. At age 12 she placed third in the Young Artist Piano Competition sponsored by the Gulf Coast Symphony and continued competitive events through high school. Classical music was her passion, but she loved big band music and jazz. She was an avid swing dancer.

In 2002, she was hired as a pastoral musician at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zephyrhills playing overflow masses at the Parish Center for the season. She was a member of the Contemporary Ensemble and the Adult Choir and sang in their respective concerts from 2003-2007. For the First Winter Concert Series sponsored by the Music Ministry, she performed a solo concert of classical repertoire on March 6, 2006.

Recently she returned to college to further her musical studies. She was First Chair, Second Violins of the Dade City Symphony for the 2011-2012 season.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Evelyn Macar and her paternal grandfathers, Mr. Leonard Balistreri and Mr. MC Lee.

Left to cherish her memory are her parents, her maternal grandfather Mr. Alex Macar, her paternal grandmother Mrs. Francis Lee, her maternal uncles, Bob Macar and wife Robin, Alex V. Macar, Rich Macar and wife Amy and her paternal aunt Janet Waddel and husband Brooks.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, January 18th from 6:30 PM -8:30 PM at MacDonald Funeral Home, 10520 N Florida Ave, Tampa. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 15520 N. Boulevard, Tampa on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM. Family will receive friends at 9:30 AM prior to the Mass. Interment will take place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Clearwater, Florida.

"ENTRUSTED INTO OUR CARE"
MacDonald Funeral Home