Rosa Balish

Rosa Ella (Raynolds) Balish, 92 of Denver, passed away, Sun., Jan. 26, 2020 surrounded by her family. Born in Schenectady, NY, she was a daughter of the late David W. & Katherine F. (Floyd) Raynolds and the loving wife of Jacques F. Balish, who passed in 2000. Rosa worked locally in the field of computer science (long before the days of laptops) as a systems analyst, writing programs for Bank of PA, Reading Hospital, and for Doubleday Book Company when she lived in NY. Rose was an active, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ephrata and Reading, PA. She was an avid genealogist, working countless hours in the genealogy library at her church. She helped hundreds of people trace their roots and find their ancestors. Personally, she traced one of her lines back to 1140 A.D. Rosa volunteered in her community by working the voting polls and serving as Democratic Chairwoman for Brecknock Twp., Lancaster Co., for 47 years. She always had room in her home and heart for others in needs, whether it was to provide a meal for someone who needed it, a place to stay for someone passing through town or providing shelter and love for many foster children she and her husband helped throughout the years. Rosa also had a love for learning and believed that learning never stopped. At age 86 she took a calculous course and online Latin class; just to refresh her memory. She also taught herself the Russian language by listening to records in her younger years. Rosa enjoyed cooking, canning, gardening, knitting, needlepoint, & crocheting. If there was a craft or creative talent, she was always willing to give it a try and usually mastered the skill. She loved animals, and was a collector of strays, taking any opportunity to make another fur or feathered friend. Throughout her life, Rosa was adventurous and at times a rule breaker. As a youngster, she drove the adults in her small Tennessee town crazy because she insisted on wearing pants in the winter and shorts in the summer. Something that was unheard of back then. She was often found in the top of the highest tree on her grandmother's farm--perched in that tree reading a book. She had a great love of camping, the outdoors and rollercoasters. As a young mother of 4 children, she prepared her family for a backpacking trip through Baxter State Park in Maine, by loading up everyone's backpacks each weekend and marching them up and down the side of the Long Island Expressway. She made sure that as a family, countless memories were created that would last her children a lifetime--so that as adults-- they would have a bond that brought laughter, tears and joy each time they reminisced. Rose was many things to many people but first and foremost she was a mother. She loved each of her children unconditionally but ruled with a firm hand. She along with her husband, taught their children the meaning of hard work, kindness, unconditional love, acceptance of all people, honesty, the importance of being able to laugh at yourself and the importance of having faith in your life. She was strong, outspoken when she needed to be and always kind and loving. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her family. Rosa is survived by four children, Deborah L. (Michael T.) McCowan of Myerstown, Katherine R. (John W.) Singer of Ephrata, & Jennifer L. (Gregory T.) Buck of Denver, Jacques Balish of Stover Missouri; 13 grandchildren, Travis McCowan of Harrisburg, North Carolina, Jennifer McCowan Androsko of Pottsville, PA, John Singer Jr of San Antonio Texas., Jared Singer of Troy, New York, Jordan Singer of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Jaime Singer of Hood River, Oregon, Jaqueline Balish and Madison Balish both of Honolulu Hawaii; & ten great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Patrick Cannon and her brother, David W. Raynolds. Services will be private. Rosa's final resting place is Muddy Creek Cemetery, Denver, Pa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice and Community care of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125, or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Wounded Warriors. Arrangements by Good Sipler Funeral & Cremation Centre, Inc, Reamstown, Pa. www.goodfuneral.com