Nicholas Basta

Nicholas Stephen Basta, 89, formerly of Plainsville, Pennsylvania, died peacefully on August 10, 2013, surrounded by his loving family at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. He was born on January 2, 1924 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, son of the late Filomena (Florence) and Michael Basta formerly of Parsons, PA. He was a graduate of Coughlin High School. He was a proud veteran of World War II. He served in the 155th Field Artillery Battalion of the Texas 36th Infantry Division as a Cannoneer in the European Theatre and was a lifetime VFW member. He was employed in the garment industry at Square Apparel, Empire State and Leslie Fay dress factories and finally at Mr. Z’s supermarket in Plains. Nicholas and his wife Eleanor recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Pittston, PA, and of St. Brendan the Navigator, Hilliard, OH. Both Nicholas and his wife, Eleanor, have resided with their son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Susan in Columbus, OH, since 2004. He loved life, his family, friends and the countless people he befriended over his 89 years. He was a good man, husband and father who provided for his family through adversity, including loss of home to fire in 1963 and flood in 1972 and in caring for his disabled wife for many years. He will be missed and grieved by many. He loved gardening—especially tomatoes.
Surviving are his wife, Eleanor; his son, Nick and daughter-in-law, Susan, Columbus, OH; his son Edward and partner, Karen Andrasi, Havertown, PA; sister, Josephine (Basta) Zionkowski, Lancaster, OH; brothers Francis, Avenel, NJ, and Michael, Laflin, PA; and many nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, 4475 Dublin Rd, Hilliard, OH, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 16, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, 9571 N High St, Lewis Center, OH. The family thanks the staff and physicians of The Ohio State University Medical Center and the Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Care Center and the staff of Altercare of Hilliard for their devoted and excellent care of Nicholas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, 35 E. Chestnut St, Columbus, OH 43215 or go to http://www.dav.org/help-dav/.