Jeanne B (Balshi) Roberts

Jeanne B. Roberts, 94, of Catawissa passed away on Thursday March 16, 2023, at her residence. She was born March 13, 1929, in Catawissa, a daughter of the late Andrew J. and Ruth (Smith) Balshi.

She graduated from Catawissa High School class of 1947. She traveled to Germany in the late 1960's. Jeanne had a lifelong pen pal from Australia named Daphne Hendrickson. In her younger years Jeanne worked at Downtown Ridgeways, the Studio Shop, until opening her Strawberry Patch Gift Shop. She also worked at McVeys, and then retired from AJ Balshi Inc., the families feed mill where she was the vice president.

Jeanne was an amazing interior decorator. She decorated many private homes in town and did interior decorating for Bloomsburg University. She also did a lot of decorating for the Holly Trail at Christmas time with her niece. While being an interior decorator, art was in her blood. She painted some of the most beautiful oil paintings.

If you needed to know something about the town of Catawissa, Jeanne was who you went to. She was the “unofficial” Catawissa Historian, publishing her own Catawissa History Book. She also published her own "Nana's Cookbook." If you wanted a good meal she cooked some of the best food. She was a member of the Catawissa Delta, the Garden Club, and Christ United Evangelical Lutheran Church. Jeanne enjoyed shopping, and decorating, but most of all taking care of her family. 

Jeanne is survived by two sons; Jeffrey T. Roberts, Jay A. Roberts wife Olga, all of Catawissa, four grandchildren; Chad, Wesley wife Simone, Zachary, Tiffany, and three great-grandchildren; Victoria, Dylan, and Jasper James. As well as two sisters; Donna Gregorowicz of Catawissa and Molly Conrad of North Carolina, and numerous very close nieces and nephews. 

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years James A. Roberts, who passed away on June 17, 2021, son James "Robbie" Roberts III., who passed away November 2016, and brother Jack Balshi.

A celebration of life will be held Friday March 24, 2023 at 11:00 am at Christ United Evangelical Lutheran Church, 216 Church St., Catawissa with Rev. Gordon Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 am until time of service.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Jeanne's memory may be sent to Christ United Evangelical Lutheran Church, 216 Church St., Catawissa, PA, 17820, or Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick, 1409 N. Market St. Suite 202, Berwick, PA, 18603.

Family and friends may send online condolences to allenrhornefuneralhome.com. The Allen R. Horne Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Catawissa is handling arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeanne B (Balshi) Roberts, please visit our floral store.