Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA) - April 18, 2011
Marion M. Blanchard Loved her family; great communicator, cook
LUTZ, Fla. — Marion M. Blanchard was a great communicator and could passionately carry on conversations covering a wide range of subjects. But first and foremost, she loved people, especially her beloved husband, Ray, her four children and her six grandchildren. Her final words to her daughter, Maryann, exemplified that spirit. Simply, she repeated, "I love you, love you, love you."
At 88, Marion passed away on April 9, 2011, in Lutz, Fla., where she had relocated in 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Ray Blanchard , and two brothers, John and Norman Forde. She is survived by sons Robert Blanchard and wife Lourdes of Land O'Lakes, Fla. and Ray Blanchard of Fayette, Me.; daughters Maryann Keris and husband Stephen of Plymouth, and Barbara Kilroy of West Barnstable; brother Stephen Forde and wife Terri of Westford; sisters Dorothy Pike of Barefoot Bay, Fla. and Virginia Wells and husband Richard of Milton; grandchildren Lauren Keris, Lesley Maloon and husband Chris, Molly Kilroy, Jesse Kilroy, Andrew Blanchard , David Dewey and wife Gretchen; and granddaughter Taryn.
Marion graduated from Milton High School and the Katharine Gibbs School before meeting her husband in 1945 at the John Hancock Building in Boston. She settled into the life of a homemaker, residing in Natick, Manchester NH, Paxton, Medfield and Stoughton before eventually moving to Cape Cod. While always an independent woman, she was also renowned among her family for her flexibility. Her children remember that if their father phoned unexpectedly at 4 p.m. to inform her that he'd be bringing a guest home for dinner, she would have dinner ready and a welcoming smile when they arrived at 6. On the numerous occasions when her husband was transferred in his job, she would simply start packing without complaint. She felt that wherever he was instantly became home.
Her independence was on display when she returned to work as a secretary in Medfield in the 1960s at a time when women raising families did not often have careers. But she loved her job and managed to successfully balance both.
Marion was a superb cook and loved baking cookies and other delights for family and friends. She possessed a generous, engaging soul and took pleasure in helping others, spending her final years volunteering at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Bearmakers, and the Lutz-Land O' Lakes Women's Club. After moving to Florida she spent several months each year visiting her daughters on Cape Cod and Plymouth, and enjoyed attending services at Our Lady of Hope in West Barnstable. People were often drawn to her because they knew she was truly interested in them.
She knew a little something about everything, but she had a special fondness for birds, particularly cardinals, and drew great joy from teaching her children and grandchildren about them.
Marion was also known for her uncanny sense of direction. Her family remembers her as a human GPS who could find her way just about anywhere. She could also be quite unintentionally witty, such as the time she learned that someone had driven their car through the window of a Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts. "Now why wouldn't they have gone to Hearth 'n Kettle?" she wondered in complete seriousness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Marion M. Blanchard Loved her family; great communicator, cook
LUTZ, Fla. — Marion M. Blanchard was a great communicator and could passionately carry on conversations covering a wide range of subjects. But first and foremost, she loved people, especially her beloved husband, Ray, her four children and her six grandchildren. Her final words to her daughter, Maryann, exemplified that spirit. Simply, she repeated, "I love you, love you, love you."
At 88, Marion passed away on April 9, 2011, in Lutz, Fla., where she had relocated in 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Ray Blanchard , and two brothers, John and Norman Forde. She is survived by sons Robert Blanchard and wife Lourdes of Land O'Lakes, Fla. and Ray Blanchard of Fayette, Me.; daughters Maryann Keris and husband Stephen of Plymouth, and Barbara Kilroy of West Barnstable; brother Stephen Forde and wife Terri of Westford; sisters Dorothy Pike of Barefoot Bay, Fla. and Virginia Wells and husband Richard of Milton; grandchildren Lauren Keris, Lesley Maloon and husband Chris, Molly Kilroy, Jesse Kilroy, Andrew Blanchard , David Dewey and wife Gretchen; and granddaughter Taryn.
Marion graduated from Milton High School and the Katharine Gibbs School before meeting her husband in 1945 at the John Hancock Building in Boston. She settled into the life of a homemaker, residing in Natick, Manchester NH, Paxton, Medfield and Stoughton before eventually moving to Cape Cod. While always an independent woman, she was also renowned among her family for her flexibility. Her children remember that if their father phoned unexpectedly at 4 p.m. to inform her that he'd be bringing a guest home for dinner, she would have dinner ready and a welcoming smile when they arrived at 6. On the numerous occasions when her husband was transferred in his job, she would simply start packing without complaint. She felt that wherever he was instantly became home.
Her independence was on display when she returned to work as a secretary in Medfield in the 1960s at a time when women raising families did not often have careers. But she loved her job and managed to successfully balance both.
Marion was a superb cook and loved baking cookies and other delights for family and friends. She possessed a generous, engaging soul and took pleasure in helping others, spending her final years volunteering at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Bearmakers, and the Lutz-Land O' Lakes Women's Club. After moving to Florida she spent several months each year visiting her daughters on Cape Cod and Plymouth, and enjoyed attending services at Our Lady of Hope in West Barnstable. People were often drawn to her because they knew she was truly interested in them.
She knew a little something about everything, but she had a special fondness for birds, particularly cardinals, and drew great joy from teaching her children and grandchildren about them.
Marion was also known for her uncanny sense of direction. Her family remembers her as a human GPS who could find her way just about anywhere. She could also be quite unintentionally witty, such as the time she learned that someone had driven their car through the window of a Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts. "Now why wouldn't they have gone to Hearth 'n Kettle?" she wondered in complete seriousness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA) - April 18, 2011
Marion M. Blanchard Loved her family; great communicator, cook
LUTZ, Fla. — Marion M. Blanchard was a great communicator and could passionately carry on conversations covering a wide range of subjects. But first and foremost, she loved people, especially her beloved husband, Ray, her four children and her six grandchildren. Her final words to her daughter, Maryann, exemplified that spirit. Simply, she repeated, "I love you, love you, love you."
At 88, Marion passed away on April 9, 2011, in Lutz, Fla., where she had relocated in 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Ray Blanchard , and two brothers, John and Norman Forde. She is survived by sons Robert Blanchard and wife Lourdes of Land O'Lakes, Fla. and Ray Blanchard of Fayette, Me.; daughters Maryann Keris and husband Stephen of Plymouth, and Barbara Kilroy of West Barnstable; brother Stephen Forde and wife Terri of Westford; sisters Dorothy Pike of Barefoot Bay, Fla. and Virginia Wells and husband Richard of Milton; grandchildren Lauren Keris, Lesley Maloon and husband Chris, Molly Kilroy, Jesse Kilroy, Andrew Blanchard , David Dewey and wife Gretchen; and granddaughter Taryn.
Marion graduated from Milton High School and the Katharine Gibbs School before meeting her husband in 1945 at the John Hancock Building in Boston. She settled into the life of a homemaker, residing in Natick, Manchester NH, Paxton, Medfield and Stoughton before eventually moving to Cape Cod. While always an independent woman, she was also renowned among her family for her flexibility. Her children remember that if their father phoned unexpectedly at 4 p.m. to inform her that he'd be bringing a guest home for dinner, she would have dinner ready and a welcoming smile when they arrived at 6. On the numerous occasions when her husband was transferred in his job, she would simply start packing without complaint. She felt that wherever he was instantly became home.
Her independence was on display when she returned to work as a secretary in Medfield in the 1960s at a time when women raising families did not often have careers. But she loved her job and managed to successfully balance both.
Marion was a superb cook and loved baking cookies and other delights for family and friends. She possessed a generous, engaging soul and took pleasure in helping others, spending her final years volunteering at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Bearmakers, and the Lutz-Land O' Lakes Women's Club. After moving to Florida she spent several months each year visiting her daughters on Cape Cod and Plymouth, and enjoyed attending services at Our Lady of Hope in West Barnstable. People were often drawn to her because they knew she was truly interested in them.
She knew a little something about everything, but she had a special fondness for birds, particularly cardinals, and drew great joy from teaching her children and grandchildren about them.
Marion was also known for her uncanny sense of direction. Her family remembers her as a human GPS who could find her way just about anywhere. She could also be quite unintentionally witty, such as the time she learned that someone had driven their car through the window of a Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts. "Now why wouldn't they have gone to Hearth 'n Kettle?" she wondered in complete seriousness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Marion M. Blanchard Loved her family; great communicator, cook
LUTZ, Fla. — Marion M. Blanchard was a great communicator and could passionately carry on conversations covering a wide range of subjects. But first and foremost, she loved people, especially her beloved husband, Ray, her four children and her six grandchildren. Her final words to her daughter, Maryann, exemplified that spirit. Simply, she repeated, "I love you, love you, love you."
At 88, Marion passed away on April 9, 2011, in Lutz, Fla., where she had relocated in 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Ray Blanchard , and two brothers, John and Norman Forde. She is survived by sons Robert Blanchard and wife Lourdes of Land O'Lakes, Fla. and Ray Blanchard of Fayette, Me.; daughters Maryann Keris and husband Stephen of Plymouth, and Barbara Kilroy of West Barnstable; brother Stephen Forde and wife Terri of Westford; sisters Dorothy Pike of Barefoot Bay, Fla. and Virginia Wells and husband Richard of Milton; grandchildren Lauren Keris, Lesley Maloon and husband Chris, Molly Kilroy, Jesse Kilroy, Andrew Blanchard , David Dewey and wife Gretchen; and granddaughter Taryn.
Marion graduated from Milton High School and the Katharine Gibbs School before meeting her husband in 1945 at the John Hancock Building in Boston. She settled into the life of a homemaker, residing in Natick, Manchester NH, Paxton, Medfield and Stoughton before eventually moving to Cape Cod. While always an independent woman, she was also renowned among her family for her flexibility. Her children remember that if their father phoned unexpectedly at 4 p.m. to inform her that he'd be bringing a guest home for dinner, she would have dinner ready and a welcoming smile when they arrived at 6. On the numerous occasions when her husband was transferred in his job, she would simply start packing without complaint. She felt that wherever he was instantly became home.
Her independence was on display when she returned to work as a secretary in Medfield in the 1960s at a time when women raising families did not often have careers. But she loved her job and managed to successfully balance both.
Marion was a superb cook and loved baking cookies and other delights for family and friends. She possessed a generous, engaging soul and took pleasure in helping others, spending her final years volunteering at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Bearmakers, and the Lutz-Land O' Lakes Women's Club. After moving to Florida she spent several months each year visiting her daughters on Cape Cod and Plymouth, and enjoyed attending services at Our Lady of Hope in West Barnstable. People were often drawn to her because they knew she was truly interested in them.
She knew a little something about everything, but she had a special fondness for birds, particularly cardinals, and drew great joy from teaching her children and grandchildren about them.
Marion was also known for her uncanny sense of direction. Her family remembers her as a human GPS who could find her way just about anywhere. She could also be quite unintentionally witty, such as the time she learned that someone had driven their car through the window of a Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts. "Now why wouldn't they have gone to Hearth 'n Kettle?" she wondered in complete seriousness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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