Obituary of Normalea S. Balch

Minerva Normalea S. Balch, 77, of Minerva, passed away, Sunday, December 14, 2008 at Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in North Creek. Born August 15, 1931 in North Creek, she was the daughter of the late Gernsie and Vera (Savoie) Stanley. She spent her early life in North Creek, attending school then moved to Tahawus, where she graduated from Newcomb Central School. She attended Cortland State College, and then moved on to graduate from Albany Business College before working with the W.E. Ward Lumber Co. She later returned to college at Plattsburgh State University, graduating with a teaching degree. Normalea married Vernon Balch on September 4, 1954. She briefly taught in Elizabethtown before moving to Peekskill and joining her husband in their funeral business. She was a deacon and elder in the Peekskill Presbyterian Church and a member of various organizations in the area. She graduated from Phelps Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, where she worked for a number of years before retiring in 1986 and moving back to the Adirondacks. After her return to the area, she was employed by Adirondack Tri-County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in North Creek for 11 years. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Vernon Balch, who passed away 2002, after 48 years of marriage. She is survived by her 5 children; Jeffrey Balch and his wife, Jean of West Kingston, RI; Matthew Balch and his wife, Janet of Peekskill; Daniel Balch and his wife, Cathy of Wallkill; Tracy Lockhart and her husband, Robert of Wallkill; Faith Di Rubbo and her husband, Daniel of Beacon; 5 grandsons, 8 granddaughters, and 3 great-grandsons; a sister, Shirley Armstrong and her husband, James of Cortlandt Manor; along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and her sister in law, Pearl Corlew and her husband, William of Parish, FL. Friends may call on Normalea’s family from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Thursday at Alexander Funeral Home, Inc., 4479 State Rt. 28, North River. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be conducted 11 am Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Lucy Harris, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Irishtown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Minerva Historical Society, c/o Lester Sternin, Minerva, NY 12851 or to the First Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg, Warrensburg, NY 12885. Please visit www.alexanderfuneralhomes.com for online guest book, condolences and directions.