Sandra Jean Ballance, age 71, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2021 surrounded with love and family at home. She fought a long battle with Frontal Temporal Dementia over the past 5 years and showed amazing strength to the end. Born in Chester, PA to John and Geneva Kozak, Sandra Jean was adored by all from the beginning. She was passionate about her family, relatives, and her Catholic faith. She enjoyed shopping with her daughters and helping her friends. She met her husband Bruce, who attended PMC Colleges, at a Kappa Sigma fraternity party in 1969. They were married December 18th 1971, and started a family while Bruce was attending the Intern Training Center, Red River Army Depot, Texas. They resided in Texarkana, AK, and Texarkana, TX, where Bruce Jr. was born, and College Station, TX, where Bruce attended Texas A&M University. Bruce and Sandy were married for 50 years and raised four children in Lakewood, NJ. Sandra Jean worked as a secretary at Fort Monmouth, NJ until just before Diane was born. She was a devoted wife and loved having babies and being a mother. Sandra Jean was predeceased by her mother, Geneva Kozak (nee Wysomerski); father, John Kozak; and sister Nancy Jassem. She is survived by her husband, Bruce Wayne Ballance, Sr., her children, Bruce Wayne Ballance, Jr., Diane Elizabeth Ballance, Brittany Leigh Ballance, and Melissa Jean McCaffrey, and her sister, Donna Simone. Also left behind to cherish her memory are many nieces and a nephew.
Family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at the D'Elia Funeral Home, 1300 Vermont Avenue, Lakewood, N.J. A funeral service will begin at 12:00 p.m. and will be followed by interment at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood, N.J. The family will host a reception at the conclusion of the service. All friends and family are invited to attend. Flowers and cards may be sent to the funeral home.
