Julia Balas
(83 years old)
JULIA BUCH BALAS A LONGTIME NORWALK RESIDENT, PASSED AWAY ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 WITH HER FAMILY BY HER SIDE AFTER A COURAGEOUS BATTLE WITH MULTIPLE HEALTH ISSUES. SHE WAS THE WIFE OF RICHARD MARTIN BALAS, THE LOVE OF HER LIFE FOR 58 YEARS. JUDY'S FAITH, HER FAMILY, AND HER IRISH HERITAGE WERE A SUSTAINING FORCE IN HER LIFE. SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLY VIBRANT PERSON WHOSE WARMTH, ENTHUSIASM AND OPTIMISM INSPIRED ALL WHO KNEW HER. JUDY MET THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT LIFE THREW AT HER WITH UNFLINCHING COURAGE AND DEDICATION TO HER GOD ABOVE ALL, FAMILY AND ALL THOSE SHE LOVED. BORN IN NEW YORK, SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE EILEEN COLLINS BUCH OF RIDGEFIELD WHO EMIGRATED FROM IRELAND IN 1930, AND ROBERT J. BUCH OF NEW YORK. JUDY GRADUATED FROM NORWALK HIGH SCHOOL 1959, MERRILL BUSINESS SCHOOL, STAMFORD, CT. ALSO ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF CONN, IN STAMFORD, CT. NORWALK TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (NOW N.C.T.C.), SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY, BRIDGEPORT DIOCESE DAY STAR PROGRAM. E.P.A. CLASSES, ALONG WITH CLASSES IN NEW YORK AT I.B.M. WERE SHE WAS A SYSTEMS ANALYST. AFTER LEAVING THAT POSITION SHE BECAME A STAY AT HOME MOM & THEN A CAREGIVER FOR FAMILY AND SO MANY OTHERS IN HER LIFETIME UNSELFISHLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION. JUDY MARRIED HER HUSBAND RICHARD IN 1966 IN RIDGEFIELD CT. AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH, AND WERE MARRIED FOR 58 YEARS. THEIR LOVE WAS UNDENIABLE TO ANYONE WHO KNEW THEM.
JUDY ALWAYS SAID THAT HER GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS WERE THE BIRTH OF HER SON MARKUS IN 1971 AND HER DAUGHTER HEATHER IN 1972. HER STEADFAST LOVE AND DEVOTION TO FAMLY AND FRIENDS WAS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO HER. JUDY WAS A WOMAN OF GREAT CATHOLIC FAITH. TRULY A REMARKABLE WOMAN WHO LOVED LIFE. SHE WAS A LOYAL FRIEND, A CARING AND SELFLESS PERSON, WHO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE SHE HAD CONTACT WITH. JUDY WAS ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO LEND A HELPING HAND. THROUGH MOST OF HER LIFE JUDY WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF ST. MATTHEW PARISH SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WAS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH COUNCIL FOR 8 YEARS, A EUCHARIST MINISTER, HAVING STARTED THE EMMAUS COMMUNITY IN 1989 WHERE IT CONTINUED FOR 21 YEARS, AND A TEACHER WITH THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR 13 YEARS. SHE WAS ALSO A PAST MEMBER OF THE COLUMBIETTES, PRESIDENT OF KENDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL P.T.O. FOR 4 YEARS WERE SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE FINGER PRINTING PROGRAM IN THE NORWALK SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN IN 1982. JUDY WAS ALSO A VOLUNTEER WITH THE NORWALK HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AMERICARES OF STAMFORD HOME FRONT PROGRAM, FOR 8 YEARS WHERE HOMES WERE COMPLETELY RENOVATED AND PAINTED. A VOLUNTEER WITH THE DANBURY WOMAN'S F.C.I. PRISON FOR 22 YEARS, ALONG WITH THE HEALING MINISTRY AT THE ORATORY OF THE LITTLE WAY IN GAYLORDSVILLE, CT., A MEMBER OF THE HEALING MINISTRY OF MAGNIFICAT, AND WAS ALSO VERY INVOLVED WITH THE HEALING MINISTRY FOR THE BRIDGEPORT DIOCESE FOR 15 YEARS. JUDY WAS TRULY A WOMAN OF DEEP UNWAVERING FAITH. A GENTLE WOMAN OF GREAT COURAGE AND FAITH WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED BY HER FAMILY AS A STRONG INDIVIDUAL WHO SOLDIERED THROUGH SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT A WHISPER OF COMPLAINT. ONE OF HER GREAT JOYS WAS DECORATING HER HOME FOR ALL HOLIDAYS, ESPECIALLY CHRISTMAS. MAKING IRISH SODA BREAD ALL YEAR LONG, WHERE SHE WOULD GIVE SO MANY TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MANY OTHERS. SHE LOVED READING, WALKING, KAYAKING WITH HER HUSBAND. JUDY ALSO LOVED WORKING IN HER GARDEN, ALONG WITH THEIR MANY YEARS OF VACATIONS IN CAPE COD.
JUDY IS SURVIVED BY HER LOVING HUSBAND RICHARD, THEIR TWO CHILDREN DAUGHTER HEATHER BALAS OF NIANTIC, CT. SON MARKUS BALAS OF STAMFORD, CT. SISTER-IN-LAW CAROL BUCH OF FORT MYERS FLORIDA. ROBERT MURRAY OF CAPE COD MASS., WHO WAS TOM BUCH'S PARTNER AND A GREAT FRIEND, SISTER-IN-LAW ROSE BUCH OF DARIEN CT, AND SISTER-IN-LAW CHRISTINE HANKS FROM VIRGINIA, AS WELL AS SEVERAL NIECES & NEPHEWS AND MANY LOVING AND CARING FRIENDS. IN ADDITION TO HER LOVING PARENTS SHE WAS PREDECEASED BY HER BROTHERS THOMAS C. BUCH OF HUNTINGTON, CT. GEORGE BUCH OF FORT MYERS, FL. AND ROBERT J. BUCH OF DARIEN, CT. ALONG WITH HER IRISH COUSINS IN IRELAND, AND N.Y. JUDY IS NOW IN OUR LORDS LOVING CARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS. WE WISH TO THANK HER DOCTOR, ALONG WITH ALL THE NURSES AND AIDS THAT CARED FOR HER DURING THIS TIME AT NORWALK HOSPITAL AS WELL AS THE WAVENY HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN NEW CANAAN CONNECTICUT AND FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL HOSPICE CARE, WHICH SHE RECEIVED AT HOME AND WITH UTMOST RESPECT AND COMPASSION. HOSPICE EXHIBITED A LOVING, CONSTANT AND CARING MANNER, ANSWERING OUR EVERY QUESTION, ALONG WITH MAKING JUDY AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL CARE & DEDICATED SERVICE TO JUDY AND ALL THEY DID AT THIS TIME FOR OUR FAMILY.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 11 AT 9 AM AT ST. MATTHEW CHURCH 216 SCRIBNER AVE. NORWALK. INTERMENT WILL FOLLOW AT ST. JOHN'S CEMETERY AT THE FAMILY PLOT. THE FAMILY REQUESTS THAT IN LOU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO VISITING NURSE AND HOSPICE OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY.