NORTHBRIDGE: Flora I. (Blinn) (LaPointe) Rivers, age 88, a former longtime Tewksbury resident and aid at the Oblate Novitiate in Tewksbury, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at the Beaumont Skilled Nursing Facility in Northbridge.
She was the widow of Adelard LaPointe, who died in 1978 and Joseph Rivers, who died in 1996.
Born in Shutesbury, MA on April 21, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Bertram and Mabel (Williams) Blinn.
Flora was raised and educated in Greenfield, Mass.
She resided in Greenfield, Boston, Tewksbury, Westerly, RI and Mendon, MA until moving to Northbridge.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed as an assembler by the B.A.S.F. Company in Bedford, a nurse’s aid at the former St. John’s and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Lowell, the Sunny Acres Nursing Home of Chelmsford, the former Castle Nursing Home in Tewksbury and the Oblate Novitiate in Tewksbury. In addition, according to her family, she was the first employee hired by the former Wang Laboratories of Tewksbury
She is survived by one daughter, Marie Ann LaPointe and her companion Ronald Savacki of Mendon; one son, Robert LaPointe and his wife Audrey of Old Town, Idaho; twenty two grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Flora was the mother of the late Edward and Raymond LaPointe and sister of the late Sylvia Wilson, Bertram, Walter, Richard and Minnie Blinn.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, Nov. 6th, 6-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral Friday, Nov. 7th, at 9 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Burial at St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Oblate Novitiate, 486 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 or to Salmon Hospice, 42 Beaumont Drive, Northbridge, MA 01534 are suggested