Olga Falik

Olga Balea was born July 27, 1937 in Turda, Romania to Lucretia Marinca and Basilio Balea. Basilio worked as a glass blower and artist, and created many pieces that continue to decorate Olga and Melania's home today.

When she was 14, Olga became a big sister when Mihai was born. Olga helped raise her brother and graduated from high school a straight A student, and kept the report cards to prove it. She went on to secretarial school and worked in offices in Turda until the family immigrated to America in 1971. Basilio had been born in Pittsburgh, PA, and was an American citizen returning home with his family. The whole Balea family settled in Bronx, New York. A family friend set Olga up on a blind date with Virgil Falik, a fellow Romanian, living in Queens, NY. Six days later they were married at a court house in Queens, on March 17, 1971. They later had a formal wedding and honeymoon in Romania. Olga and Virgil settled in Queens, and we're still living there when Olga gave birth to their only child, Melania in 1975.

In 1980 the family moved to Wayne, NJ. Olga worked at several local companies, as well as in Virgil’s womens' shoe store Melany Shoes, in Manhattan. Melania helped out in the store too, helping customers and decoratorating the store window displays on weekends. When not at the store, Olga spent time taking her daughter to Broadway shows, Ellis Island, climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, exploring Manhattan’s many museums, or accompanying her to Mannes College of Music where her daughter took music classes. Olga then worked at Stern's Department Store in Preakness Shopping Center, Wayne, NJ, continuing to work there when it became Macy’s, finally retiring in 2008.

Olga was a devoted daughter, sister, friend, caregiver, wife and mother. She cared for her husband throughout his long illness until Virgil's death in 1996.

The daughter of an artist, Olga spent a lot of time drawing and creating art. Olga’s talents included painting, cross-stitch, sewing, knitting and crocheting; often making herself and her daughter clothing, halloween costumes, sweaters and dresses, as well as matching clothing for her daughter, her Cabbage Patch Kids and Barbie dolls. She made baby blankets, booties and bonnets for many of Melania's friends' children. In her later years, she drew flowers on homemade birthday and holiday cards and sent them to everyone she knew.

Olga loved flowers, and Melania and she traveled to visit various botanical gardens as well as to Ottawa, Canada to visit the world’s largest tulip festival. Olga loved animals and she fell in love with the numerous animals Melania brought home after college.

Olga spent her retirement enjoying spending time with Melania. Olga swam with dolphins, despite not knowing how to swim, ate at Emeril’s restaurant in Las Vegas, went hot air ballooning, and visited numerous national parks. After recovering from a broken ankle Melania started running 5Ks, and when a running buddy had to miss a race, Olga was ready to run alongside her. Olga was always proud of her family's achievements, keeping numerous newspaper clippings and running bibs.

Olga is survived by her daughter, Melania, of Stroudsburg, PA and her brother Michael (Mihai) Balea and his family of Kendall, FL.

Please remember Olga Falik as an incredible mother, a lover of nature, and live Olga’s favorite phrase, “It doesn’t cost anything to be nice.”

There will be a viewing on Monday April 1, 2024, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church, 1501 Trinity Court, Stroudsburg with a Funeral Mass of Tuesday April 2, 2024, at 9:00am at the church with Father Nicholas Solak as celebrant.

Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, New Jersey.