Laraine T. Long (Balla), age 52, of Canton, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday evening after an 18-year battle with breast cancer. She was born on July 5, 1956, in Canton, Ohio, the daughter of Vincent E. Balla, Sr. and Virginia (Stan) Balla. Laraine was a graduate of Timken Vocational High School and was employed by Plain Local Schools. She was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Balla. Laraine is survived by her loving husband in marriage of 27 years, Robert M. Long, with whom she shared 34 years together. Laraine is survived by and will be best remembered by the devotion she showed to her four children: Natalie (David) Laber of Arlington, Va.; Michael of Cleveland; Miranda of Washington, D.C.; and Jordann of North Canton. She is also survived by her father, Vincent E. Balla, Sr. of Canton; her two sisters, Rebecca (Ronald) Sigrist of Kernersville, NC; Barbara (Dave) Makowski of Farmington Hills, MI.; her two brothers, Vincent E. Balla, Jr. (Luciana) of Arlington, TN; John (Joyce) Balla of Canton and numerous nieces and nephews. Laraine was looking forward to attending her 35th high school reunion this fall and enjoyed being a member of the planning committee.A Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, 10 AM in the Little Flower Catholic Parish with Father John Zuzik celebrant, The procession will form at the church. Interment will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, 1-4 PM in the Spiker-Foster-Shriver Funeral Home 4817 Cleveland Ave. NW. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Laraine Long to Aultman Hospice 2821 Woodlawn Ave. NW. Canton, OH 44708 or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Northeast Ohio, 26210 Emery Road, Suite 307, Cleveland, OH 44128.