Ruth A. Balnicki passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 100. Ruth was the first child of Marie and John Schmegner, born on May 9, 1924 in Elizabeth, NJ. She graduated from Battin High School where she won awards for her outstanding seamstress skills.
She married Martin Balnicki and the couple moved to Ansonia, CT. In 1956, they purchased their home in Orange, CT where Ruth had lived for nearly seven decades. Ruth had two daughters, Margaret “Peggy” Balnicki Cohen and Karen Balnicki Wetherall. Ruth was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker.
Her daughters went to school with special lunches and came home to a full course dinner on the table. Holidays brought opportunities to select patterns and material, and Ruth sewed beautiful outfits for back-to-school, Christmas, Easter and proms. Ruth knitted, crocheted and quilted, creating beautiful gifts for her family and friends.
She successfully led Brownie and Girl Scout troops helping to shape the lives of young girls. Ruth and Marty were active members of the United Methodist Church of Ansonia, often holding leadership roles and participating in fundraisers. Ruth was loving, kind and generous, with a wonderful sense of humor.
She kept herself in good health, exercising in the 1960s with Jack LaLanne on black and white television, then later attended water aerobics classes at the pool at High Plains School. She became close friends with ladies at the pool, who have been her card playing friends ever since. Ruth enjoyed traveling, from Alaska to Thailand and especially to France to spend time with two of her beloved nieces, Kathy and Janet. She loved time at the beach and had a sense of adventure, including a zipline canopy tour in Costa Rica at 86 years of age.
Her legacy of love for her family and friends extends to all who knew her, she will be missed by every life she touched.
Ruth had been blessed to receive support from caregivers: Naomi, Savo, Beverly, and Molly. We are forever grateful for the loving care you provided Ruthie in her final years!
She is predeceased by husband Martin, brother John Schmegner, and sister Marie Steiger. She is survived by her loving children, Peggy Cohen and husband Larry of Madison, CT and Karen Wetherall and husband Chris of Oak Ridge, TN; grandchildren Michelle Cohen of New Haven, CT and Gregory Cohen and wife Melanie of Guilford, CT; and great-grandchildren Mackenzie and Miles Cohen.
A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled in May. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to CT Hospice or the charity of your choosing.
