BLANCHARD, SHIRLEY
Shirley Marie (Steel) Blanchard, 87, of Rexton, NB, passed away peacefully with family by her side July 1, 2016 at The Moncton Hospital.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, December 23, 1928 to the late Horace (Bob) and Marie Louise (Juteau) Steel.
She is survived by six daughters; Janine (Graeme McCreesh) Blanchard, Toronto,  Dianne (Bob) Warren Rexton, Nancy (Brian Rudolph) Ritcey, Pamela (Blair) Byrne, Barbara (Greg Smith) Babin, and Beverly (Dale) Soucoup all of Moncton, three sisters; Florence (Dexter) Zinck and Beatrice Grant, Bedford, NS, and Lillian (Bobbi) Steel, Halifax; five grandchildren, Melanie (Andy Carver) Warren, Rob (Michelle) Warren, Allison Ritcey, Drew Ritcey and Joel Babin, four great-grandchildren; Declan Ritcey, Colton Carver, Charlotte & Garrett Warren, many nieces and nephews and long time caregiver/friend, Joanne Guimond.  She was also loved like a grandmother by Holly (Soucoup) Wolfe, James & Erica Kew and Kyle Rudolph.
 Aside from her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Joseph (Roland) Blanchard (2001), two sons; Gary Joseph and infant, David, three sisters; Ivy Marceau, Kathleen Graham, Veronica O'Neill and one brother, John Steel.
Shirley was a devoted mother and homemaker, taking great pride in her family and her home. In her younger years she worked at a pharmacy and when her family was grown she worked at Sears. She was loved by all who met her and her home was a gathering place for her children and their friends. She loved music and loved to sing around the house. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, reading, painting, and nature. For the past 18 years she resided with Dianne and Bob in Rexton, where she enjoyed watching the birds, trees, boats and sunsets along the Richibucto River.
A special thank you to Dr. Julie-Eve Arseneault, Dr. Tania Harquail, and Dr. Greg Donald (mom’s family doctor for over 30 years.) Also many thanks to the staff of the 4600 wing of The Moncton Hospital. Nurses are angels in disguise and we cannot give enough thanks to the nurses of the Extra-Mural Hospital (Kent Unit) because without them we would not have been able to keep mom at home as long as we did. We made a great team!
Resting at Fair Haven Funeral Home with visitation on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 from 6 to 9pm. A funeral service will be held at Fair Haven Funeral Home on Thursday at 11:00am. Interment will take place in Fair Haven Cemetery.
Donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to The Friends of The Moncton Hospital or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Fair Haven Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1177 Salisbury Road, Moncton, (506) 852-3530. A book of condolences may be signed at www.fairhavenmemorial.ca