…former Sacristan at St. William’s; 94
TEWKSBURY, MA - Theresa F. (Blais) Blanchette, age 94, an active member of St. William’s Parish community, died peacefully Monday morning, December 17, at the Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Center in Lawrence, after a long period of declining health. She was the beloved wife for fifty-six years of the late Ovid L. Blanchette, who died in 1998.
Theresa was born and raised in Holland, Vermont, on April 30, 1924, the youngest of fourteen children of the late Archerlas and Amanda (Cote) Blais. She later moved to Marlborough, MA where she met and married the love of her life, Ovid Blanchette. In 1958, Theresa and Ovid moved from Marlborough, MA to South Oliver Street, Tewksbury, MA to raise their family.
In addition to her duties as a mother, she worked as a Laboratory Technician and as a Senior Cable Maker at Avco/Textron in Wilmington. In her later years, she worked for St. William’s Church.
Theresa and her husband were involved and active in the physical expansion and growth at St. William’s Church. During Fr. Croft’s years as Pastor, she was active in the Evangelization Team, working tirelessly to spread the Word. She served the parish as Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and, for several years, volunteered as Sacristan at the daily 9:00 a.m. Masses each weekday morning. She was a woman of great faith and inner strength who was devoted to her church and her family.
She leaves four children, John Blanchette of Nashua, NH, Susan Boulette and her husband Roger of Nashua, NH, David Blanchette and his wife Barbara of Methuen, MA and Michael Blanchette and his wife Lillian of Lawrence; four grandchildren, Kerry Bellheumer and her husband Chad of Hampton, NH, Peter Higgins and his wife Karen of Derry, NH, Michelle Blanchette and Matthew Blanchette and his wife Heather all of Milford, NH, her sister-in-law Jaqueline Blais of Marlborough, MA; six great grandchildren, Brett, Logan, Jessalyn, Alyssa, Trent, and Chandler; two great great grandchildren, Landyn and Audrina; many nieces and nephews.
Theresa was predeceased by her thirteen siblings.
Visiting hours Thursday, Dec. 20, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) in Tewksbury Center. Ph. (800-851-2950 in MA or (978) 851-2950. Her funeral will begin Friday at 10:30 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass on Friday, Dec. 21, at 11:30 a.m.at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) in Tewksbury. Burial in Tewksbury Cemetery will be at a later date. It was Theresa’s wish that memorials be sent to the Oblate Fathers Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler St. Tewksbury, MA 01876, in lieu of flowers. Please visit: tewksburyfuneralhome.com