Doris G. Blanchette

Doris G. Blanchette, 97, passed on to the heavenly kingdom on March 29, 2020 at the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou. Doris was born on April 25, 1922 in Caribou the 13th child of Victor and Mary (Chaloult) Ouellette. Doris was the last surviving sibling of the 15 Ouellette children. Doris was married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on October 27, 1941 to the love of her life Lionel Blanchette. They were blessed with 52 years together before Lionel passed on December 17, 1993, one of the hardest days in Doris’s life. How the Ouellette and Blanchette brothers and sisters loved to get together every week at Doris and Lionel’s house to play Charlemagne over the years. The bond shared between these families was truly amazing. Doris was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Ladies of St. Anne for 60 years, Golden Age, the KC ladies auxiliary, and a very dedicated volunteer for RSVP. Doris believed in service to others and served many meals to those in need within our community. Doris and Lionel both served their parish community as Eucharistic ministers at Holy Rosary. And together they worked for many years at the Polaris Drive-in theater, Lionel selling tickets and Doris cooking. Doris lived her life with a very strong faith in God. The values that she and Lionel lived everyday they passed on to their children. There were many family traditions that Doris passed on, one was chicken stew on Christmas Eve and attending mass as a family. It would be her strong faith in God that sustained her in her failing health.

Her surviving children are Linda (Bert) Ouellette of Caribou, Dianne (Don) Ligon of Yorktown, Virginia, Donald (Cindy) Blanchette of Woodland, and Mary Ann (Stan) Adams of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Her daughter-in-law Alice Blanchette of Yorktown, Virginia. Her 10 grandchildren that she loved with all her heart- Mike (Shelly) Blanchette, Garrett (Joanne) Blanchette, Joseph Blanchette, Renee (Randy) Blanchette Farmer, Tina (Scott) West Davidson, Andy (Becky) Ligon, Kristopher (Jenn) Blanchette, Matthew Blanchette, James Alan (Stephanie) Anderson, Megan (Patrick) Anderson Waller. Her special 14 great grandchildren Heather Keaton, Malinda (Steven) Keaton Gaudette, Alexis Keaton, Raychel (Blake Watson) Blanchette, Jenna Blanchette, Austin Daigle, Connor Daigle, Logan Blanchette, Carter Blanchette, Chase Blanchette, Sabine Blanchette, Kaylee Ligon, Sage Anderson, Sativa Anderson. And her 4 great great grandchildren- Charlotte Diner, Kegan Bernatchy, Attison Keaton, and Saylor Buck. Deceased in addition to her husband was her oldest son Raymond Blanchette on May 21, 2014, her father Victor on December 1, 1943, her mother Mary on March 6, 1963, her grandson Gary West on October 26, 1965 and her siblings Napolean Ouellette, Delphis Ouellette, Cecile Malenfant, Oscar Ouellette, Albina Thompson, Oliver Ouellette, Aldor Ouellette, Alexina Gardiner, Claude Ouellette, Emile Ouellette, Claire Blanchette, Albert Ouellette, Joseph Ouellette, and Alcide Ouellette.

A celebration of Doris’s life will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 31 Thomas Avenue, Caribou at a future date. The family would like to thank the staff of the Maine Veterans Home, Dr. Boma, Dr. Hoeksema and Ann Gahagan, FNP for the care provided to our mother these last 10 years, and especially the comfort in her last days. And thank you to her special nephew Gary Sanfacon & friend Ginette Rivard for their kindness given to Doris over the years. The family has requested that any donation in Doris’s name be given to support H.O.P.E. for assisting those most in need within our community at HOPE PO Box 625 Caribou, Maine 04736.