Mary Estella (Talcott) Mincavage Balliet

Mary Estella (Talcott) Mincavage Balliet, age 99, of Fairmount Township, passed into the hands of her loving Savior Jesus Christ on May 29, 2024 at the Bonham Care Facility.

She was born on the Talcott farm in Luzerne County, Fairmount Township on February 20, 1925.  She was the daughter  of the late Harlan A. Talcott and Nellie Stevens Talcott.  She was predeceased by her four brothers:  Forrest, Anson, Augustus, and Lenn; five sisters:  Enid, Iloe, Alva, Leta and Travila. She was the youngest and last surviving member of her Talcott family.

She attended school in the Pleasant Valley one-room school in Fairmount Twp., grades one through  eight.  She continued her high school education at the Huntington Mills High School in Huntington Mills.  Since there were no buses to transport students at that time, she and her siblings walked to school.  It was a 5 mile walk to school and a 5 mile walk home from school each day.  They had to return home from their walk only one day due to the cold weather in all their 4 years of walking to school.  Mary graduated from the Huntington Mills High School in 1942 and  served as the May Queen that year. 

After graduation she met Edward (Minkiewicz) Mincavage and they married October 31, 1943.  They had one child, Edward, who died soon after birth.  Together, they ran a garage in Harveyville until 1974.  She also worked at Karen Manufacturing in Harveyville for about 35 years.  After Edward's passing on June 3, 1975, she married Dean Balliet of Balliet Foods on December 29, 1976, and  they continued enjoying life until his passing on February 15, 2001.

She made a decision to become a resident at Bonham Nursing Care in October of 2020.  She enjoyed her time there and was loved  by the staff along with her cat, Amy.  We want to thank those at Bonham's for their excellent and thoughtful care.

She is remembered by several generations of nieces and nephews:  Diane, Tony, Carol, Barbara, and Donald Hodun; Donald and Peggy Dildine and their sons, Paul and Brandon; Bill and Barbara Franklin; Gahrad and Mary Lou Harvey; Gabrielle VanHorn; Jeanette Finlaw; Reynold Harvey, Jr.; Fred Harvey and his wife, Cecilia; John and Marcie Snyder; and George and Carroll Snyder; and neighbors, Paul and Pat VanFossen.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 at 11 AM at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road, Benton (State Route 487).  A Viewing will be held Monday from 10 AM  until the time of the service at 11 at McMichael's.  Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bonham's Nursing Care Activity Fund, 477 Bonnieville Road, Stillwater, PA 17878.

The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Balliet Family. For online condolences or additional information, please visit our website:   www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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