Margaret "Marge" Balch

Balch, Margaret E. "Marge"

Margaret E. "Marge" Balch, (nee Conard) 80 years old, peacefully went home to her Lord on May 4, 2013 at Saint Paul Elder Care Services, Hospice Wing, Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Born in Brooklyn New York, Marge was a long-time resident of Palmerton Pennsylvania before moving to Wisconsin in 2005. She was the daughter of Richard W. and Helen G. Conard, and sister of Helen Peters all of whom predeceased her. She was sister to Richard W. Conard, Cranston Rhode Island, and Robert Conard, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.

Marge was well known in Wisconsin for her handmade jewelry that she sold both on College Avenue and at the Neenah Farmers Market with her very dear friend Lorinda. She loved to demonstrate her craft to both adults and children alike.

She will be fondly remembered in Pennsylvania for her passionate advocacy for persons diagnosed with mental illness. Marge served on numerous county and state committees and boards working tirelessly for the belief everyone has a voice and a choice as well as recovery does happen. Marge's greatest joy on her journey in advocacy was her founding of the Carbon County New Hope Drop-In Center, located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania designed to promote emotional and physical wellbeing and socialization for persons living with a mental health diagnosis. The Drop-In Center thrived and flourished under her leadership and continues to be a blessing to all who enter.

Besides her numerous successes in advocating on behalf of persons with mental illness, Marge will be remembered with love, as a devoted and caring mother to Margaret "Midge" Klotz, wife of David, Palmerton Pennsylvania, Robert Balch husband of Lisa, Slatington Pennsylvania, Michael Balch, husband of Deborah, Lehighton, Pennsylvania, Kathleen "Peggy" Friebel, wife of Bob, Kaukauna, Wisconsin and John "Jay" Balch also from Kaukauna WI. Marge, a loving grandmother to Kevin Klotz and Robert Balch both of Palmerton, Michael Balch, Allentown, Angela Piskorski, Fleetwood, Patricia Sterner, Nazareth, and Michael Balch II, Lehighton, all in Pennsylvania, Keisha and Tylor Balch of Kaukauna, and Robert and Nicholas Friebel of Kaukauna, Wisconsin. She is also great-grandmother to seven, while excitingly awaiting two more due in September. She will also be missed dearly by those who she lovingly adopted as her own fondly referring to her as Mama or Grandma Margaret.

Visitation will be held Monday May 13, 2013 at O'CONNELL FUNERAL HOME (1776 E. Main St. Little Chute) beginning at 5:00 p.m. until time of Funeral at 6:30 p.m. The Rev. David Vande Hey will officiate. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com.

Margaret's family would like to extend their love and gratitude to Dr. Bruce Danz and the entire staff at Kaukauna Clinic, Dr. Bar-Lev and the entire staff at Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology who cared so much for her, allowing her to remain with us the past 12 years despite her diagnosis. Margaret's family would also like to extend their love and gratitude to the entire staff at Saint Paul Elder Services and Saint Paul Hospice. Their empathy, compassion and care for her were a blessing to her and her family daily.