Bertha Ann (Gryken) Balkunas, 92, formerly of Seymour, Conn., passed peacefully from this life on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at Sarah A. Todd Memorial Home, Carlisle, following a short illness.

"Bert," as she was known to all, was born Aug. 23, 1918, the daughter of the late John Vincent and Justina (Boika) Gryken of Seymour, Conn. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Francis J. "Bunny" Balkunas, and her brother, Stanley Gryken.

Bert is survived by her sister, Grace Pawlukiewicz of Alexandria, Va.; her daughter and son-in-law, Ann B. and Col. Francis J. Cummings (Ret.) of Boiling Springs; two grandchildren and their spouses, Lisa (and David) Edwards of South Weber, Utah, and David (and Lorena) Cummings of San Antonio, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Heather Edwards, also of South Weber, Utah; and several nieces and nephews throughout the Connecticut area.

A lifelong resident of Seymour, she was an active member of the Seymour Senior Center before moving to Pennsylvania in 2005 to make her home with her daughter in Boiling Springs, where she was active in the Bubbling Ladies of Boiling Springs Red Hat Society and made many new friends.

Bert was a faithful communicant of the Good Shepherd and St. Augustine parishes in Seymour and will return to Seymour for services and interment as she desired.

A viewing will be held at Chepulis Funeral Home, 47 Washington Ave., Seymour, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Friday, April 8, followed by a funeral mass at St. Augustine's Church, Seymour, at 11 a.m., with graveside services following immediately at the family plot in St. Augustine's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Engine Co. No. 2, 20 DeForest St., Seymour, CT 06483; or the League of the Sacred Heart, St. Augustine's Church, 35 Washington Ave., Seymour, CT 06483.

Ewing Brothers Funeral Home handled the local arrangements.