Aston, PA—Sister Trinita Balbach, OSF, 91, died in Assisi House on March 13. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 70 years. Sister Trinita (Helen Marie Balbach) was born in Wilmington, Delaware, where she was a member of St. Thomas Parish and a graduate of Wilmington High School. She entered the congregation in 1943 and professed her first vows in 1946. Her sister, Sister Helena Joseph Balbach, also entered the congregation and currently lives in Wilmington. Sister Trinita earned a B.S. in Education from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and an M.A. in Educational Administration from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. She ministered primarily in education as both teacher and principal and, in later years, in parish ministry.
Sister Trinita ministered for many years in various parts of Florida. She spent 27 years in the Diocese of Venice. She began at St. Ann School in Naples where she served first as teacher and later as principal. In 1993 she returned to Naples and worked at St. Peter Parish, serving as coordinator the parish’s ministry to the sick and homebound. In 1998 she also began working as assistant director and school advisor with the George and Mary Kramer Foundation which provided financial help for students in Catholic schools.
Sister Trinita’s 19 years in the Diocese of Orlando included working as both teacher and principal of St. John Vianney School in Orlando, Florida. She also taught for three years at St. Thomas More School in Warrington—part of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.
During Sister Trinita’s 13 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, she taught at both St. Paul School and Shrine of the Little Flower School. During her four years in the Diocese of Charleston, she taught at St. Paul School in Spartanburg and Our Lady of Peace School in North Augusta. She also served as principal of St. Joseph School in Anderson.
In 2011 Sister Trinita moved to Our Lady of Angels Convent, the congregation’s motherhouse in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she volunteered in the congregation’s foundation office. In 2012 she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Friday, March 18. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. In addition to Sister Helena Joseph, Sister Trinita is survived by her sisters, Frances Balbach, Sr. Helena Joseph Balbach, by her nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
