Mary Blanchard

VISITATION

10 a.m. Monday, March 12 until the time of the service at Holy Cross Parish, 107 South 8th St., Cornell

SERVICE

11 a.m., Monday, March 12 at Holy Cross Parish, 107 South 8th St., Cornell

Mary J. Blanchard, 88, of Eau Claire, formerly of Cornell, died Friday, March 9, 2012 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire.

She was born May 13, 1923 in Edgefield, SC to Beatrice (Parker) and Nicodemus Burr. She was raised in the Connie Maxwell Children's Home in Greenwood, SC.

Mary met the man that she would spend her life with, Leonard Blanchard, while he was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in South Carolina while training to become a pilot. They were married on May 5, 1945 in South Carolina. They moved to Cornell, where Leonard was originally from, and Mary worked at the Northern Center as a resident care technician in Chippewa Falls until her retirement in 1989.

She enjoyed visiting with friends and had many. She loved and was very proud of her family and thought of her husband's family as her own.

Survivors include: a daughter, Anita "Kaye" Rohrssen of Cadott; a son, Leonard Michael "Mike" Blanchard of Diamond Head, Miss.; five grandchildren, Nicole Blanchard of Eau Claire, Roberta (Josh) Christensen of Chippewa Falls, Lindsey (Aaron) Veum of Waconia, Minn., Jeannie (Roger) Olson of Jim Falls, Rebecca (David) Mills of Michigan; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Leonard on November 15, 1990; a sister, Aletha Blackwell; four brothers, Robert, Hayward, N.D. and William Burr; and a grandson in infancy.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 12 at Holy Cross Parish in Cornell with Deacon Dennis Rivers officiating. Interment will be in Cornell Cemetery.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.

AFTERSERVICE:

A funeral service for Mary J. Blanchard, 88, of Eau Claire, formerly of Cornell, was held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 12 at Holy Cross Parish, Cornell. Deacon Dennis River officiated, Fran Gagnon served as acolyte and music was provided by Judy Brist. Interment followed in Cornell Cemetery. Casket bearers were: Joshua Christensen, Dustin Odden, Aaron Veum, Roger, Matthew and Adam Olson.