Rita T. Balaban

Rita was a devoted wife, mother, aunt, daughter, mother-in-law, niece, sister, and grandmother who peacefully passed away at her home on September 25, 2024, at the age of 64. She met Joseph A. Balaban in high school, and they wed on September 1, 1984. Now reunited in heaven, they are together once again, just as Rita often envisioned. She leaves behind her two cherished sons, G.E. (Janelle) and Thomas “T.A.” (Kristen), of whom she was immensely proud. Born on June 21, 1960, Rita was the daughter of Freda and Glenn R. Tennant Sr. She is also survived by her older brother Glenn R. “Sonny” Tennant Jr. (Shirley) and her twin brother Richard D. Tennant.

Her life was a true reflection of her unwavering dedication to her family and community. Rita took immense joy in her role as a grandmother, frequently picking up Jonah and Gretchen from school and taking them to the park.

She loved sharing stories about Joe and recounting G.E. and Thomas’s adventures they had while growing up.

Rita’s passions extended beyond her family. She actively participated in Oak View Global Methodist Church, engaging in Dartball and other community events such as riding the school bus for “Intermediate Unit 1.” Her friends described her as a reliable confidante, always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear.

In her spare time, Rita enjoyed hunting for bargains, running errands, helping friends, and listening to her scanner in the living room.

A celebration of Rita's life will be held at Oak View Global Methodist Church, 160 Rolling Meadows Rd., Waynesburg, PA 15370, on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The family invites everyone to join them for dinner following the service, welcoming all who knew and loved her to honor her memory. In lieu of flowers, they kindly request donations be made to Oak View Global Methodist Church, which was Rita and Joseph's cherished home church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Behm Funeral Home, 182 W. High St., Waynesburg, PA 15370. Condolences may be expressed online at www.behmfh.com.

Rita’s memory will forever be cherished by her family and friends, who hold close all the moments spent with her. Her legacy of love, kindness, and commitment will inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. To keep her memory alive, her family encourages everyone to share their cherished memories and stories. A guestbook will be available for you to include your reflections. Gretchen and Jonah beautifully reminded us, “Grandma is perfect in heaven now. While we will miss her and always talk about her, we know we will see her again. For now, she is not alone and is singing with Jesus.”