Family of the Year

Larry and Sheila Balagna

Larry Balagna and Sheila Kelley lived a block and a half from each other in the small Illinois town of Farmington – Larry in the third grade, Sheila in the first – when Larry’s family moved a short distance away. They didn’t meet until years later on a Friday night at a local bowling alley when Larry’s sister and brother-in-law were finishing in an early league and Sheila arrived to play in a late league. They became Larry and Sheila Balagna in January 1973 – soon after he completed four years in the Marines – and became Council 8157’s first recipients of the Knight Family of the Year award as announced by Grand Knight Marc Evans at the officer installation dinner on June 27 2026. Sheila was looking down at a napkin when Marc said “Larry,” which led her to ponder what other Larry’s are council members. “And then when he said my name, it was, ‘What? Oh, no! Wow! What did we do?’”

What haven’t the Balagnas done since arriving at Holy Spirit soon after their move from Illinois in 1995?  Their relocation coincided with the youngest of their three sons beginning college, so the new empty nesters no longer would devote time to school events, Boy Scouts, town government (Sheila added duties as city clerk to the full-time job that led to their move to Texas). They identified Southwest Dallas County as where they wanted to settle and soon after were attending Mass at 1111 West Danieldale.“Sheila fell in love with the parish immediately,” Larry recalled. She remembered: “’How are we going to fit into this community?’ As soon as we saw Holy Spirit, we knew – this is going to be a fit.” Two of the Balagnas’ sons were Knights in Illinois, so Larry was familiar with the Order when approached at the January 1996 parish welcome dinner by Dick Bates. Approached, as in … “He put a Form 100 in my hands and said, ‘Sign it.’” Case closed. It really wasn’t a hard sell with Sheila’s encouragement. We’ve seen Larry in action with energy and purpose that’s difficult to match, whether during one of the many Knight Hands missions that he’s been a part of to fish fries, pancake breakfasts, fall festivals, Pentecost picnics and much more. Holy Spirit’s early risers know he’s one of the Hospitality Ministers at the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Retirement in 2013 from his position as events coordinator for Northwood University has meant more time devoted to the KC’s. Sheila retired that same year. She was involved in music ministry back home and continued that at Holy Spirit. She taught children’s faith formation, was for year’s part of the parish’s funeral ministry team, pitched in when the fall festival had the rummage sale that required help from dozens of volunteers for months and answered the call when the parish’s front desk needed someone to fill in. When KC member Bill Chalko suggested to Sheila having a parish women’s group that resembled the Knights, she organized Holy Spirit’s court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Were that all not enough, she’s the cantor and piano player each Sunday during the morning Mass celebrated at the St. Joseph Residence home in Oak Cliff, also providing a musical program that delights the residents. Three years ago, they had the honor of attending the diocese’s annual Mass for couples celebrating their golden anniversary. Away from church, they enjoy their sons – Kurt, Matt and Greg – and six grandchildren. And don’t forget Noelle, the rescue bunny who inspired Sheila to compile engaging writings about their furry friend in the book “The Bunny Says.” Sheila and Larry served as co-presidents of the Irish-American Society of Dallas 2013-15 with Sheila recognized as the organization’s Person of the Year in 2018 with Larry following suit in 2023. Larry said he was shocked when their names were called as our first Knight Family of the Year. “I just like to do things and every now and then get thanks for doing something,” he said. “And see people enjoy what we do. We’ve always told our kids to pass it on; you’ll get something in the end.” We’ve received so, so much from Larry and Sheila Balagna.