11/10/2016
In Our Care - Blanche L. Maheu
11/8/2016
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Blanche L. Maheu, 106, formerly of Linden Ave. Woonsocket died peacefully with her family at her side Tuesday November 8, 2016 at Hope Hospice and Palliative Care in Providence.
Born and raised in Bellingham she was a daughter of the late Alicde and Laura (Lamoureux) Rivet. She was a resident of Woonsocket for most of her adult life.
Mrs. Maheu was the wife of the late 1st Lt. Herve Maheu. There were married on May 1, 1937 and had several brief but very happy years together before he was called to service in WWII as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot. 1st Lt. Maheu was killed in action on September 22, 1944 in a plane crash in the European-African-Middle Eastern theatre as he was piloting a contingent of paratroopers. Despite her devastating loss Blanche’s thoughts turned to the families of the other servicemen on the plane. She unselfishly channeled her grief into reaching out to and writing to the wives or girlfriends of every man who was aboard her husband’s plane. She offered them her words of comfort in the face of their mutually shared grief together with feelings of pride in the sacrifice their loved ones had made in the fight against tyranny.
Blanche worked in the local textile industry at the French worsted mill in Woonsocket for over 40 years until retiring in 1970. She later volunteered her time at the Woonsocket Health Center.
Blanche enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. She kept meticulous scrapbooks that bore witness the many events during her life of 106 years, from family to local and world events she enjoyed chronicling them in her memoirs. In her youth and young adult years Blanche was a force of nature, adventuresome and fun-loving. Blanche was always looking forward to the next adventure especially time with her husband Herve that including riding on motorcycles or flying in airplanes. Blanche loved to feel the rush of the wind in her hair as she darted about with her flying ace sweetheart. As the years went on Blanche was a beloved aunt to several generations of her extended family. Her strong faith and positive outlook guided her through over a century of a beautiful life. Her family, while saddened by her passing, takes great comfort knowing that Blanche and Herve are together at last.
In more recent years Blanche was a resident of the Chepachet and West Glocester area. She was feted at the annual 2010 Chepachet 4th of July Ancients & Horribles Parade where she served as Grand Marshall of the parade and received the Golden Cane in honor of her being the oldest town resident. It was a great honor for Blanche and a day she never forgot.
Blanche is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. She was the sister of the late Henry and Aldor Rivet, Eva Heroux, Flora Landry, Bertha Ethier and Rose Cole.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 10:00 am in Precious Blood Church, Carrington Ave. Woonsocket. Burial will follow in Precious Blood Cemetery, Woonsocket. Visiting hours are Saturday morning from 8:30-9:30 am, prior to Mass, in the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket.
www.menardfuneralhome.com
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