BREWER – Blanca Josephine Skidgel (Carazo), 66, died Oct. 7, 2005, at a Brewer healthcare center. She was born Aug. 26, 1939, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Antonia Carazo and Juana Asencio. She was valedictorian of her class at Santa Cruz High School in Trujillo Alto and attended the University of Puerto Rico. She met her husband, Herbert, on Luquillo Beach in Puerto Rico by telling him, “Come here Americano, I will talk to you.” After a few dates, they were engaged and remained happily married for 44 years. She was a loving wife and mother: raising three children, two with learning disabilities, with her husband. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she volunteered her artistic talents. She made her voice heard in local politics by serving as a delegate at state Democratic conventions. She enjoyed playing the piano, making afghans and quilts and shopping for bargains. She was an avid collector of clown statues and paintings of tall ships. She enjoyed eating seafood at her favorite restaurant, Captain Nick’s, where she had many friends. After many years of fighting manic depression and a heart condition, she is at peace, and has been reunited with her parents and son, Alfie. While she will be sadly missed by her family and friends, her love will be in our hearts forever. Surviving are her husband, Herbert, and sons, Anthony and Herbert Jr. of Bangor; son, John, daughter-in-law, Allison, and granddaughter, Beatriz, of Berkeley, Calif.; cousins, Rosario Asencio Cruz, Jose Asencio Cruz, Ms. Maria Carazo, Carmen Diaz Asencio, Jose Diaz Asencio, Sonia Shelley Diaz, Ramon Diaz Asencio, Gustavo Diaz Asencio; two special aunts, Esther Asencio Cruz and Ramona Diaz Asencio, all of Puerto Rico; sister-in-law, Dorene Schmidt of Bangor; sister-in-law, Ethel Plante of Howland; and brother-in-law, Claude Skidgel of Lincoln. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She will be missed and remembered by many friends, Elba Kaszovitz Diaz of New York, Josefa de la Nater of Arizona, Mary Frazier, Sylvia Washburn, Bonnie Hichborn, Anne Lever, Marie Bogan and Edward and Faith Taylor, all of Bangor, Mark Messer of Hermon, Elvin and Maria Leyro of Hampden, Ursual Haas and daughter, Elke Conradt of Germany, and Larry and Betty Hunt of Roswell, Ga. Her family would like to extend great thanks to the doctors and nurses at Eastern Maine Medical Center and Family Practice who took such good care of Blanca through out her life. Friends are invited to visit with the family 3-6 p.m. Tuesday at Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. A funeral service will be held 5:45 p.m. with the Rev. Mr. Frederick Harrigan, Deacon of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church officiating.
BLANCA JOSEPHINE SKIDGEL
