Mary J. Tufano Balavender of East Haven died Sunday April 2 at Apple Rehab Laurel Woods in East Haven. She was the wife of the late Severio Tufano and Henry Balavender. Mary was born in New Haven Feb. 14, 1926, daughter of the late Giovanni and Amalia Cusano Juliano.

She worked as a foreman at Sargent Company until retiring.

She is survived by her children Janet (Bill) Wolfe of North Branford, Linda (Michael) Sanzone of Branford, and Gerald Tufano of New Haven; her grandchildren Jonathan (Cristina) Wolfe, Michael (Kathryn) Sanzone, and Kristen (Christopher) Parsons; and her great-grandchildren Isabella, Arianna, Lily, and Wynter.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Apple Rehab Laurel Woods for the excellent care given to Mary during her time there.

The funeral left from the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 N. Main St., Branford, April 6 for a Mass of Christian burial in St. Mary Church. Burial followed in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Friends called prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515. For an online memorial, visit www.wsclancy.com.

a