Elsie (Mortagua) Blanchette, 83, of Dartmouth died March 8, 2012 at home after a brief illness surrounded by her loving family.
She was the companion of the late Antone Luce, Jr.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Antonio and Maria D. (Rosa) Mortagua, she lived in Dartmouth most of her life.
Mrs. Blanchette was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Dartmouth.
Mrs. Blanchette worked most of her life while raising her family. After her retirement she joined the Foster Grandparents Program as a volunteer. She served as a Foster Grandmother at St. Luke's Hospital Lumbard Ward for 19 years, doing what she loved best, loving and caring for people. A loving mother who dedicated her life to her family, she spent all her spare time with her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her 8 children, Bruce Lewis of Bethlehem, NH, Diane Machado and her husband Robert, Michael Luce, and Cheryl Barrett and her husband Charles, all of Dartmouth, Rosemary Head, Elaine Gendreau and her husband Charles, and Tamara Luce, all of New Bedford, and Sandra Hibbert and her husband Todd of Wareham; a brother, Augustine Mortagua of New Bedford; 25 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, 2 nephews and a niece.
She was the mother of the late Robert Luce and Karen DeMello.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford Monday, March 12th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth at 10 AM. Visiting hours Sunday, March 11th from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.