Mildred A. Hentz Lindblad
“Family Matriarch”
“Our mother was a lady touched by God’s grace.”
Proverbs: 31
Mildred Augusta Hentz Lindblad, 101, of Worcester and East Sandwich, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at Knollwood Nursing Center on Sunday, January 24, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Arthur Wilhelm Lindblad; parents, Carl Valentine and Augusta Emilie (Friedrich) Hentz; sons-in-law William D. MacQueston and Richard “Bubba” P. Drury.
Mildred was born on May 10, 1919 in Worcester, Massachusetts the only child of her loving parents. During her childhood she had perfect attendance at Sunday school and was a great help to her parents. Following graduation from the former Classical High School in 1937, she began working at Denholm & McKay as a sales clerk.
While attending a Worcester Memorial Auditorium Home Show with a friend, it is there she met the love of her life, Arthur Lindblad. They were married on November 16, 1940 at Zion Lutheran Church.
In the mid-1940s Mildred and Arthur purchased a piece of land in East Sandwich and built their dream cottage. It became a second home for the family. Mildred stood side-by-side with Arthur building their Cape Cod home. She also enjoyed fishing, boating, golf, was a veracious reader, excellent seamstress baker and cook. Mildred was truly a renaissance woman.
Following the birth of their two daughters, Dianne and Janis, Mildred became a stay-at-home mother and truly loved that role. Yet, she stayed very active in the community as a Girl Scout Leader for many years, volunteered at Zion Lutheran Church by making quilts, cloth folk art dolls and grapevine wreaths which were sold at the annual Christmas Fair and cared for aging parents. When her children were teenagers Mildred began a new career at Norton Company. She and Arthur are both Norton retirees.
Mildred was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, always putting her family first. She taught her family important life lessons; to be kind, giving, belief in God and self-sufficiency.
Mildred is survived by her daughters, Dianne M. Drury of Westminster, Massachusetts; Janis C. MacQueston of Williamsburg, Virginia; granddaughters, Kris A. Drury of Westminster; Massachusetts, Kim P. Hanlon of Northborough, Massachusetts; Becky L. Hardin and fiancé Rodney L. Canoy of Kuna, Idaho; greatgrandchildren, Francis X. Hanlon, III of Los Angeles, California; Brandon Hanlon of Denver, Colorado; Luke Hanlon of Worcester, Massachusetts; Samantha Hardin, Emma Hardin, Sky Hardin all of Kuna, Idaho; several great nieces, nephews and cousins; her special friends in East Thompson, Connecticut; Williamsburg, Virginia and members of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War EVL Detached Tent #1 – Virginia. Mildred’s great grandfather, Edward A Graichen fought and was wounded in the Civil War.
The family would like to express its deepest appreciation and thanks to the entire staff at Knollwood Nursing Center for the professional and loving care given to Mildred during the last several years.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 9:30 – 10:30 am at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester, followed by a service at Zion Lutheran Church, 41 Whitmarsh Avenue, Worcester at 11:00 am with burial at All Faiths Cemetery, 9 Island Road, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 41 Whitmarsh Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606 or Knollwood Nursing Center Activities Fund, 87 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606. To leave an online condolence message, please click link.