FORT KENT – Blanche Gertie Dube Bouchard, 92, died unexpectedly Jan. 29, 2011, at her home. She was born Feb. 24, 1918, in Wallagrass, daughter of Regis and Claudia (Labbe) Dube. At 3 months old, her father passed away and later her mother remarried to Thomas Gagnon and he raised her as his own.
Blanche did her Cursillo in 1984. She was an active member of St. Louis Parish, serving as a Eucharistic minister and volunteer for many church functions, including tallying the weekly church collections since 1984. She was also extremely devoted to her favorite ladies association, Ladies of St. Anne, since 1981, and in 1987 she was honored by being crowned Mother of the Year. Blanche was also an active member of the Columbiettes since 1985, a member of the hospital guild since 1999, a Veterans of Foreign Wars member since 1954, a RSVP member since 1983 and a devoted volunteer for the local Good Shepherd Store. In 1947 Blanche and her devoted husband, Gilman, purchased a service station with a grocery store in Fort Kent Mills. They worked side by side and built a full line Chrysler dealership with not much education, but with a strong and faithful relationship with everyone.
Blanche is survived by her two sons, Lester and his wife, Diane Bouchard, of Fort Kent and Glen Bouchard and his partner, Norman, of Manchester, N.H.; three daughters, Linda and her husband, Bill Graves, of Presque Isle, Della Flanagan and her friend, Joe Sarna, of Candia, N.H., and Gilda and her husband, Sherbey Morris, of Fort Kent; a son-in-law, Paul Lagasse; a daughter-in-law, Judy Bouchard; 13 grandchildren, Tammy Bouchard, Sherry Lee Meyer, Smyth, Corey, Faith and Miles Bouchard, Heidi, Cassandra, Twyla, Mary Grace and Saul Morris, Ryan Flanagan and Kaitlyn McManus; two stepgrandchildren, Debbie Saucier Madore and Jennifer Saucier Draper; five great-grandchildren, Christa Keiser, Rebecca, Shannon and Troy Meyer, and Mirabella Charette; and three great-stepgrandchildren, Drew and Bryce Madore, and Dawson Draper. She was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Lagasse, in 1969; her husband, Gilman Bouchard, in 1992; her father, Regis, in 1921; her stepfather, Thomas Gagnon, in 1952; her mother, Claudia (Labbe) Dube Gagnon, in 1960; her sisters, Lisa Dube and Bertha Dube Thibodeau; her half brothers and half sisters, Orelien Gagnon, Edmund Gagnon, Gilman Gagnon, Albertine Gagnon Voisine, and a special half sister, Therese Gagnon; and her stepsiblings, Eva Gagnon Albert, Camille Gagnon and Emile Gagnon. She took upon her mother’s last wishes of looking after her two youngest half siblings, Theresa and Gilman Gagnon. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends for her love, guidance and support.
Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at Daigle Funeral Home, Fort Kent. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Spring burial will be held May 17 at the parish cemetery. Those who wish may donate in her memory to St. John Vianney Renovation Fund, 26 East Main St., Fort Kent, ME 04743. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.