Eleanor "Nora" Jeanette Balderrama

It is with great pain and sorrow that we announce the passing of Eleanor (Nora) “Grandma” Balderrama, 88, of Laveen, AZ. Nora entered this life on May 21, 1935, and entered eternal rest on December 3, 2023. A loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and beloved Daughter, Nora passed peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by her Family.

She is preceded in death by her parents (Jesus DeLeon and Mary Marquez), husband Richard L. Balderrama, son Jesus (Jay) Balderrama (Becky), son Daniel Balderrama, and grandson Brandon Balderrama. She is survived by her daughter Olivia (Son-in-Law Alex), daughter Maria, son John, son Nick (Carol); grandchildren Jonathan, Christopher (Thalia), Richard, Gabriel, Ashley, Nicholas Jaime, Joseph, Kyle, Baby Alex; and her great grandchildren.

Nora was born in Phoenix, AZ and graduated from West High School. Characterized as a military Wife and Mother, Nora was a strong-willed and caring woman who will  be remembered as a warrior, having endured several challenges throughout her lifetime.

Grandma developed such a reputation for being strong, that we would often joke about how she could survive anything. In between her bouts of being invincible, she could be found enjoying her favorite hobbies, which included reading suspense and romance novels, reading the newspaper, couponing, playing bingo, completing word search puzzles, watching the Suns play, and watching the Cardinals come up short. Out of her many hobbies, she loved reading the most, so much so that it became a struggle to find novels entertaining enough for her, as she would often read a new book in a matter of days. One of Grandma’s notorious gifts, when you greeted her, was to provide you with coupons she clipped from the newspaper, just one of the many ways she showed her care and affection. Grandma was also notorious for having a sweet tooth, with her favorite desserts consisting of three musketeers, butterscotch candy, and pan dulce. She was also not one to stay idle, as she always wanted to help and often did so by making contributions to the home. It was here where she became a master of her craft and helped to alleviate some of the struggles that come with everyday life. Grandma will be greatly missed by so many of the people who loved her. Although her departure has left us in great pain, we can be at ease knowing that she has finally achieved peace and can rest easy.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, located at 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ.