Elsie (Diemand) Blanchard

Elsie Rose (Diemand) Blanchard, 71, of Florence, died unexpectedly at her home on June 19, 2018. Elsie was born in Montague, MA, on August 17, 1946. 

She attended St. Anne’s School in Turners Falls and R. C. Mahar Regional High School in Orange, graduating in 1965. Elsie then attended Nursing School at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston and graduated in 1971. She worked as an emergency room nurse at hospitals in Boston, Maine, and Vermont as well as the Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague. Elsie returned to College and earned a Business degree from Umass Amherst in 1985. She later opened The Raven’s Nest, a unique collectable gift shop, located in Greenfield and Hadley. She operated the business until her retirement in 2003.  

Elsie married the love of her life, Roger Blanchard, in 1967. After eloping to the surprise of their family and friends, they went on to enjoy 46 years of marriage together. Elsie cared for Roger during his terminal illness and continued to love him deeply after his passing in 2013. 

For Elsie, her family was everything.  After retiring Elsie spent her time caring for her grandchildren and working at her family farm. Elsie was a master pot pie creator and genius gravy maker. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, a great sister, and a loyal friend. Her family and friends knew Elsie for her expert skills at drying fruit and sharing it everywhere she visited. She was generous and kind spirited and treated everyone with love and respect.  Elsie had a great sense of humor and the sound of her laughter was contagious.  

Elsie is survived by her daughter Tabitha Favreau, son-in-law, Paul, and two grandchildren, Alex and Erika of Brattleboro, VT. She is also survived by ten siblings and their spouses. Her surviving brothers and sisters include: Joseph Diemand, Mary Diemand, Judy Bailey, Faith Diemand, Peter Diemand, Anne Diemand Bucci, Paul Diemand, all of Wendell; Bertha Petruski of Fairhaven, MA; Albert (Butch) Diemand of Houston, TX; Anthony Diemand of Montague, as well as many nieces, nephews, and countless friends. She was predeceased by her husband Roger, her parents Albert and Elsie Diemand, and brother Edward Diemand. 

In keeping with Elsie’s wishes, she will be cremated. A wake will be held on July 26, 2018 from 4-7pm at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls.

A gathering in her memory will be held at 1pm on August 12, 2018 at the Diemand Farm in Wendell, MA. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307, The Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, 1605 Goularte Place - Fremont CA 94539-7241 or to any charity that is dear to you. 

To honor Elsie, if there is a kindness that you can do for someone, simply do it. Elsie taught us the importance of loving deeply and wholeheartedly.

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