Father Harvey J Ballance

Father Harvey James Ballance, age 89, died at home June 23, 2020 in Montclair, NJ.

Father Harvey was born in Orange, NJ on April 6, 1931 to Harvey J. Ballance, Sr. and Mary J. Ballance (Fitzgerald). He attended Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair and Seton Hall College. He then attended Darlington Seminary in Mahwah, NJ. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark on May 25,1957 by Archbishop Thomas Boland.

Father Harvey served at numerous parishes in New Jersey including Most Blessed Sacrament, Roseland, Queen of Peace, North Arlington, Sacred Heart, Haworth, and St. Mary’s, Jersey City. The last parish he served was St. James in Newark.

Father Harvey also served two missionary tours with the Diocese of San Isidro in Tigre, Argentina from 1966 to 1979 and again from 1997 to 2002. While there he helped establish both a school and a church.

Father Harvey was a Chaplain in the Knights of Columbus from 1991-1997 and from 2015 to his passing. After his retirement on May 1, 2001, he had several assignments with Catholic Relief Services. He also served as the Director for the Permanent Diaconate Program in Spanish for the Archdiocese.

Fluent in three languages, Father Harvey was also a self-taught jazz pianist and trombone player.

Father Harvey is survived by his brothers John Sr. (Eileen) and Peter, his nephews Brian (Barbara) and John Jr. (Andrea), his nieces Mary Elizabeth (David) and Susan Neilson, 10 great-nieces and nephews and one great great-niece. Father Harvey is also survived by his cousins Susan Dowd, Nancy (Gregg) Burke, and Anne (Henry) Butow.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Father Harvey J Ballance, please visit our floral store.