BALAZS, Matilde Julieta Brachtl

Matilde Julieta Brachtl Balazs, 71, entered Heaven on May 4, 2003, following a hard-fought battle with heart disease. Born on July 4, 1931, in Mexico and raised in Nicaragua, Matilde, known as Lupe to her friends, came to the United States to pursue studies in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1954 at the age of 22, she was the youngest woman ever to receive a master's degree from the graduate school of John Carroll University. Matilde was a school teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother. She always had an opinion, spoke her mind freely and loved spirited conversation. She was a devout Catholic who never waivered in her faith. She loved all her children dearly and devoted her life to caring for a daughter with special needs. She also didn't think twice about helping those less fortunate. Matilde played the piano and adored good music, from a mariachi ballad to a Strauss waltz. She also was a green thumb in the garden and a voracious reader. She is survived by one son, Mark Brachtl; three daughters, Diana Balazs, Tatiana McFadden & Lydia Balazs; daughter-in-law, Lynn Brachtl; son-in-law, Kevin McFadden, and four grandchildren, Brian, Kevin, Connor and Abigail. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th St., Phoenix. Memorial contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phx, AZ 85014-5656. Published in the Arizona Republic on 5/7/2003.