Rose (Garbarino) Balowski

Rose Nina Balowski, age 92, passed away October 2, 2023.

On October 17, 1930, Hamtramck’s Zinow Street was graced with the presence of a firecracker named Rose Nina Garbarino, lovingly born to Edward Garbarino and Anna Crimaldi. As a wife to the late Normand (Carl) Balowski, and the fiercely proud mother to Rosalie, Norman, Nina, Eddie, and Carl, she lived a life more radiant than the tips of her cigarettes or favorite leopard prints.

From its founding, Rose was a fixture at Comos Restaurant for over half a century and she served with the same dedication she brought home. A consummate homemaker and caregiver, she was the embodiment of the Biblical Mary and Martha, always putting the needs of others before herself - even if it meant her own meal turned cold while ensuring her family and guests were fed.

Her home, always spotlessly clean, was a hub for generations of family, echoing with the clinks of milk glasses and beer bottles, the ripples of card shuffles, and the laughter accompanying her infamous thinly sliced honey baked ham. And, let's not forget her renowned holiday decorations - every holiday had the Rose touch and plenty of animation.

Her passion for life shone brightly in her early love for dancing, particularly to the spirited rhythms of polka. And in her calmer moments, the distant sounds of her and her cherished husband either cheering or playfully chastising the Tigers could be heard throughout the home.

Always the epitome of style (who could forget that love for leopard prints!), with a spirit that never wavered and a heart that delighted in gifting children just to catch a glimpse of their joy, one might believe that Rose was untouched by life's challenges. Yet, scarcely two months passed without her making a spirited appearance at the casino, surrounded by those dear to her heart.

Indeed, our gatherings will feel less lively without her, but her legacy? That's as permanent as her insistence on a spotless home (as Nina can testify!). Here's to Rose: a woman who loved deeply, lived brightly, and knew the secret to a good game of cards and a filled cookie jar. You'll be missed, but your vivacity will forever dance on the stage of our memories. Salute to a life well loved!

Rose was the beloved wife of the late Norman Balowski; loving mother of the late Rosalie Goodrich, Normand Balowski, Nina (Greg) Mondello, Edward Balowski, and Carl (Patricia) Balowski; devoted grandmother of 9 as well as several great-grandchildren; and dear sister of the late Edward Garbarino.

Visitation Friday, October 6, from 10:00 a.m. until the 12:00 p.m. Funeral Service at Wysocki & Wilk Funeral Home, 29440 Ryan Road, Warren, Michigan. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Please share a memory, thought, or prayer with the family here at Rose's Tribute Wall.