Pearl Balan passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of March 20th. Pearl was born in a rural community near Yorkton, Sk. She married Bill Balan in 1949 and farmed with him near Arran, Sk until they moved to Swan River, Mb in 1953. She resided in Swan River until 1974, when she moved to Merritt.

Since her arrival in Merritt, Pearl has been a member of the Crossroads Community Church (Full Gospel). Until her later years she was an active member of her church and the seniors’ group there. Over the years she enjoyed gardening, cooking, and embroidery. She volunteered at the Food Bank. Pearl took pride in her ethnic Ukrainian cookery and enjoyed teaching the younger generation how to make traditional foods. Several years ago she tried her hand at quilting and painting. She had recently moved to Nicola Meadows.

Left to mourn are her sister Mary Padley of Merritt, and Sam (Alice) Oystryk of Yorkton; her daughter Iris (George) Rauch, and Rose Balan of Merritt, and son-in-law Harold Coleman of Kamloops; grandchildren Kim (Jack) McKenna, Michele Rauch (Dwayne Nicholson), Dale (Vicky) Rauch, and Darren Coleman; great-grandchildren Aaron Rauch, Nick McKenna, Kylie Rauch, Justin and Austin Rauch, Ben Coleman, and Abigail Coleman; great-great grandchildren Rory Rauch and Thor Hansen. Pearl was pre-deceased by her parents Dan and Helen Oystryk; brothers Bill, John, and Nick; husband Bill; daughter Sylvia Coleman; and grandson Dennis Coleman.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 7th at the Crossroads Community Church at 1:00 p.m. officiated by Sherry Peterson. Interment will be a private ceremony with her family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pearl’s name to the Merritt and District Hospice Society, c/o NVGH, 3451 Voght St. Merritt. BC, V1K 1C6.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Merritt Funeral Chapel.