Suzanne "Suzie" E. Balamenti

Suzanne “Suzie” E. Balamenti, age 73, passed away in Phoenix on November 24th, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's.

She was born in Los Angeles on August 29th,1952 to John and Gloria Haupenthal and raised there along with her five siblings until age 16 when the family moved to Laguna Beach, California.

She met her husband, Philip, in Tempe, Arizona in 1972 and they were married on January 18th,1975 at Brophy Chapel in Phoenix. The ceremony was a double wedding along with Philip's brother, Kris and his wife.

Over the last 51 years, Suzie and Phil have lived in Cottonwood, AZ, Bellingham, Washington, Flagstaff, Casa Grande, Tempe and in Phoenix since 2003. Their two children, Vanessa and Nicolas, were primarily raised in Tempe.

Suzie was last employed as a Senior Program Coordinator by the Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarship Advisement at the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. She loved her job of advising and assisting students in obtaining some of the most prestigious graduate scholarships, including Rhodes, Marshalls (both UK), Fulbrights, Trumans, etc. After 15 years, she retired in 2011.

Suzie was one the most congenial people you'd ever want to meet. She loved cooking, entertaining, hiking and traveling. She adored and spoiled her grandchildren, who called her G Dude (Grandma Dude). Despite having Alzheimer's for 10 to 11 years, she was still hiking at over 8,000 feet elevation up until 3 years ago. Numerous trips to Europe and Mexico, among other countries, were all planned by her and Phil with no tours, cruises or mega resorts. She and Phil wanted to go and do what they wanted without fighting the crowds.

Suzie is survived by her husband, Phil, daughter Vanessa (Tyler) 47, son Nicolas 44, granddaughters, Sydney 22 and Natalee 19. Also, her 5 brothers and sisters, Robert (Nancy), Kathleen (Jean Claude), Victoria, Valerie and Earl.

She'll be greatly missed by everyone.