Lorraine "Billie" Basalay

On March 17, 2018, the heart of Lorraine “Billie” Basalay that had experienced 93 years of living and loving as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother finally succumbed to the reality we all must face, that is, the end of this earthly journey.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 AM Thursday in St. John the Baptist Church in Lostant with the Franciscan Friars officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be in the church on Thursday from 10:00 AM until time of services. The Hurst Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  

Billie began her earthly voyage on August 12, 1924 born near Wenona where she joined her parents Gertrude (Ballensiefer) and Peter Wiesbrock and her two brothers Edward (Doris) and Lavern-Bud (Marge) Wiesbrock.

Billie worked at Owen Glass Factory in Streator after high school. She and Denton (Barney) Strode were married on June 16, 1943. They first lived with Denton’s parents in Lostant, they then moved to Magnolia for 10 years, back to Lostant in 1954, where in 1966 they built their new home. They had two children, daughter Linda (Dennis) Tuller of Frankfort and son Patrick (Vickie) Strode of Lostant, both survive her. Two grandchildren Brett Carr and Tracy Schlinger survive her, two grandchildren Brian Strode and Vickie (Tim) Snyder preceded her. Three great grandchildren, Mallory and Taylor Schlinger and Logan Snyder survive her as well.

She worked for Marty Chiropractic Clinic in Lostant, later at Goodall Bakery in the Peru Mall until she met and married John Basalay on February 18, 1989. They lived in Lostant until John’s death September 16, 2012. Surviving members of the Basalay family are son Greg (Sue) Basalay of Farmington, daughter-in-law Andrea (Jay) Basalay of Hoffman Estates, grandchildren and great grandchildren of John’s. Jay Basalay and Sue (Greg) Basalay preceded her.

Dancing was a favorite pastime for Billie, which was where she met John. They enjoyed dancing and playing Bingo for many years. She was faithful in her belief that Jesus Christ was her savior and in her membership to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Peru. A lifelong resident of Lostant. Since 2014, she made her home at the Cottages of New Lenox and recently at Our Lady of Angels in Joliet to be near family there. She was preceded in death by both of her brothers.

Pallbearers will be Brett Carr, Tracy Schlinger, Dan Gullicksen, Mallory Schlinger, Taylor Schlinger, and Logan Synder.

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