She was born to the late Louis and Elizabeth Hirsch, on October 15, 1939, in Akron, OH. Roz graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Pittsburgh, PA, and attended Ohio State University. After completing her accounting studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she went on to earn her CPA Certificate in March, 1976. She married Sheldon (Shelly) Balbirer in 1960 and they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2010 with a trip to Hawaii with her children. Roz and Shelly lived in Pittsburgh, PA before moving to Durham in 1966.

She founded her own accounting firm shortly after certification in March 1976. Over the next 25 years, until her retirement, the firm grew from that of a sole practitioner to one of the largest female owned firms in the State of North Carolina.

Roz was an actively involved in the Durham/Chapel Hill Jewish community. She was a member of Judea Reform Congregation and was a past president of the Durham Chapter of Hadassah. To honor her service in Hadassah, her name is inscribed in the Book of Builders at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Roz had a wide range of interests. She was an avid fan of Carolina athletics and made sure that she had season tickets to women’s basketball and football. Culturally, Roz loved the cultural life of the Triangle and was a supporter of the North Carolina Symphony, Playmaker’s and the Durham Performing Arts Center. As a North Carolinian by choice, there was nobody more proud of the cultural offerings in North Carolina.

Roz is survived by her husband, Dr. Sheldon Balbirer; two daughters and their spouses, Rena and James Cooper, and Amy and Michael Windham; sisters, Phyllis Hirsch and Diane Hirsch.

A funeral service celebrating Roz’s life will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012, 11:00 AM, at the Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham. Officiating will be Rabbi John Friedman. Burial will follow in Judea Reform Congregation Cemetery in Carrboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make contributions in memory of Roz to the NC Cancer Hospital, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, to honor the extraordinary kindness and professionalism of the entire staff.

The Balbirer family is under the care of Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home. Online condolences may be submitted at www.howertonbryan.com, select obituaries.