Rita (Letendre) Blanchette

Rita (Letendre) Blanchette of Westport, MA, passed peacefully into eternal rest Tuesday night, March 8, after a long illness. She was 93. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Maria (Joubert) Letendre and the sister of the late Everett Letendre. She was predeceased by her husband, Hector Blanchette. She is the beloved mother of four: Monique Bazinet, Marc and his wife Linda Blanchette, Vivian Blanchette, and Eric Blanchette. She also leaves two grandsons: Brian and Jason Bazinet. Mrs. Blanchette moved into her current home in 1921 and has lived there ever since. She was a devoted parishioner of St. George's Church in Dartmouth/Westport since the age of four. Mrs. Blanchette worked in the garment industry in Fall River for a time - once in the 30s and 40s then again in the 60s to the early 70s. She is probably best known for her remarkable knitting skills having made hundreds of sweaters and afghans during her lifetime, items that will be cherished by all lucky enough to have received them. She was active until recently in two senior citizen social clubs in Westport having served for a time as vice president in one of the groups. Family and friends are invited to visit on Friday, March 11, 2011, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the AUCLAIR FUNERAL HOME, 690 So. Main St., Fall River. Her funeral will be held Saturday at 8:30 AM from the funeral home with a funeral mass in St. George's Church, 12 Highland Ave., Dartmouth at 10:00 AM. Burial, Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River. Donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 502 Bedford St., Fall River MA 02720, or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, PO Box 650309, Dallas TX 75265.