PRESQUE ISLE – Arlene V. Blanchard, 80, wife of the late Richard B. Blanchard, died Jan. 24, 2007, at her home. She was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Houlton, the daughter of Harold and Susan (Adams) Shields. She was a member of the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. Arlene graduated from Oakfield High School in 1944, then from Whidden Memorial Hospital School of Nursing of Everett, Mass. in 1948. She met her soon to be husband of 47 years, Richard, while working at Houlton Regional Hospital and they married Oct. 21, 1953. Arlene’s career in nursing also included the Mars Hill Nursing Home and the Presque Isle Nursing Home. Surviving her are two sons, Steven Blanchard and his wife, Mary Sue, of Whiteville, N.C., and David Blanchard of Presque Isle; a daughter, Lee Ann Mathis and her husband, Keith, of Presque Isle; a granddaughter, Danielle Mathis of Presque Isle; four nieces and several cousins, including a special cousin, Evelyn Blake of Brewer. Relatives and friends may call 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday at Grant Memorial United Methodist Church, Fleetwood Street, Presque Isle, with the Rev. David Williams officiating. A spring interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Hospice of Aroostook, P.O. Box 688, Caribou, ME 04736-9976. www.duncan-graves.com
ARLENE VIRGINIA (SHIELDS) BLANCHARD
