Helen Pearl (Barkhouse) Blake, 80 of Nashua, NH, died Saturday, February 17, 2007 in the Greenbriar Terrace Healthcare Center, Nashua. Mrs. Blake was born in Newburyport, MA on March 22, 1926, a daughter of the late James E. and Irene (St. Pierre) Barkhouse, Sr.. She graduated from Somerville High School class of 1943. She was a resident of Atkinson, NH for many years and spent her winters in St. Petersburg, FL. She inherited her artistic ability from her father, who studied oil painting with Aldro T. Hibbard. Mrs. Blake was an award winning watercolor artist. She was a past member of the Greater Salem Art Association, Salem, NH, a past member of Kittery Point Art Association of Kittery, ME and a past member of Suntan Art Association of St. Pete Beach, FL. As a woman of faith she attended many churches of different faiths.
She is survived by a daughter, Nancy J. Blake and her partner George W. Ladd of Londonderry, NH, a son, Richard Allen Blake and his wife Dawn of Lehigh Acres, FL, five grandchildren, Lisa B. Darling of Fremont, NH, Amy L. Ternullo-Pearson of Somersworth, NH, Kelly E. French of Sharon, MA, Christopher Allen Blake and Lauren M. Blake, both of Florida, five great-grandchildren, a brother, James E. Barkhouse, Jr. and his wife Vera Mae of Danbury, NH and also by several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger C. Blake in 2005.
Visiting hours were held Friday, February 23, 2007 from 5-8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A funeral service was held on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 10:00am in the funeral home. Cremation followed. Private graveside services will be held in the summer. For those who choose, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Research, C/O Development Office, Dartmouth Hitchcock Med. Center, One Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756 in lieu of flowers.