Blanche Derylo Balacek, 94, died peacefully on Sunday, March 26th in Carlisle, Massachusetts, at the home of her daughter, Robin Emerson Bearfield, and son-in-law, Larry Bearfield, where she had been living for the past two years. Blanche was born in New York, New York on September 7, 1922 to John and Kathryn Derylo, both Polish immigrants. She attended New York City public schools, including Julia Richman High School. She enlisted in the WAVES during World War II, where she was based in New York and boarded Navy vessels to disburse three to four million dollars each month in salary payments. She attained the rank of Chief Storekeeper (E7) and earned a sharpshooter decoration. In June 1947, Blanche married Aldrich Peter Balacek, and was a devoted wife, homemaker, and mother to their two daughters. She earned a BS in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey in 1977. She lived in Chatham, New Jersey for 39 years, and moved back to New York City in 1992. Blanche enjoyed traveling throughout her adult life, visiting 99 countries and all seven continents. She took her last international trip, to Botswana, in 2014, at the age of 92. During her travels, Blanche tutored English as a member of Global Volunteers in China (where she was in the first group of volunteers allowed into the country), Poland and Ghana. She corresponded with some of her students for many years thereafter, and financed the college education of three Ghana boys. She is survived by her daughters, Robin Emerson Bearfield and Carol Balacek, son-in-law Larry Bearfield, step-grandson James Bearfield and his wife Erin, two step-grandchildren Tucker and Amelia, and three generations of nieces and nephews. Visiting hours are at Dee Funeral Home of Concord, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA on Saturday, April 1 from 2:00-6:00PM.