Balbina "Bella" Nowak passed away on December 17, 2019 after a brief illness. She was born in Salem to Michael and Katherine Nowak on April 20 1927, and she went to Salem High. She left high school early to go to work, and Balbina worked for 32 years as a clerk for GTE.

Bella loved to garden, and she will be well remembered for her fabulous cooking, her knitting, and her penchant for the casino. Bella belonged to the Salem Senior Center, and those that knew and loved her will remember that she always had a smile on her face. She will be missed especially by her Persian cat Ashley .

Balbina is survived by her sister Barbara Nowak; her nieces Lucille St Cyr and her two sons Mark and Chris, Cheryl Giles, and Carol Hanlon; her great nieces and nephews and her great great nieces and nephews. Balbina is predeceased by her parents, Michael and Katherine Nowak, her sisters Rose Kowalski and Alice Pelletier, and her brothers Edward Nowak and Henry Nowak.

Visiting Hours will take place on Friday, January 3 from 2 to 6 PM at the Murphy Funeral Home located at 85 Federal Street, Salem. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 4 at 11 AM at the Murphy Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For more information or online guestbook please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.murphyfuneralhome.com.