1917 – 2015

AUBURN — Delores R. Blanchard, 97, a resident of Turner Road in Auburn, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, July 2, at her home with her loving family by her side.

She was born in Auburn on Dec. 2, 1917, the daughter of John and Nellie (Josephson) Mason and her adoptive parents, George and Ona Hickey.

Delores was a graduate of Leavitt Area High School and following her education, she began raising a family of seven children. She was a member of the Pythian Sisters and Turner Village Church, and was a deacon at East Auburn Baptist Church before returning to Turner Village Church.

She was employed at the former Peck’s department store, and for many summers, at Tabers Food Stand, as well as other area businesses.

Her favorite hobbies, which she loved doing, were knitting and crocheting, especially knitting dolls, as well as making and repairing porcelain dolls. During a short stay at the Hospice House before returning home, she knitted 17 dolls for the patients at the Hospice House.

Survivors include four sons, David Thompson and wife, Carole, of Monroe, N.C., Albert Thompson Jr., and wife, Nancy, of Kalamazoo, Mich., Donald Blanchard Sr., and wife, Marilyn, of Turner, and Joel Blanchard and wife, Tricia, of Canton; and three daughters, Georgieanna McArthur and husband, James, of Poland Springs, Gloria DeCoster and husband, John, of Frostproof, Fla., and Carolyn Harlow and husband, Gary, of Turner. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; as well as one cousin, Jake Enos.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Albert Thompson, in 1973 and her second husband, Austin Blanchard, in 1990; a stillborn daughter, Marilyn Jean; two grandsons, David Thompson and Michael Harmon; as well as a great-granddaughter, Joann Rioux; five brothers; and four sisters.

A great, heartfelt thanks to the men and women of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for the wonderful care Delores received during her illness.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.