Lucille Alice Blake was born June 2, 1927 to George Joseph and Emelia (Gagnon) Blake at her aunt’s home in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. She passed away on August 4, 2011 as a result of complications of MDS progress leukemia. She attended St. Charles Grammar School, graduating as valedictorian in 1942. On a full academic scholarship she attended St. Francis Xavier Academy, graduating in 1945. She worked 10 years in Woonsocket before spending 37 years in the Mechanical Engineering Dept. of M.I.T. under nine different professors, much of that time as administrative assistant. In 1988 she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, cum laude from Northeastern University and was admitted to the Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society.
Inspired by her many contacts with her foreign acquaintances, she visited the Near, Middle and Far East, North Africa, Europe, Mexico, and Canada. She enjoyed sewing and knitting much of her own clothing, reading and planning for her many travel adventures, and cooking for and entertaining her many friends. She especially enjoyed her cooking classes with Julia Child and Jacque Pepin as well as her stimulating courses at Hamilton House, Providence. She was a faithful Roman Catholic and attended mass daily for most of her retirement. She was devoted to her parents and aunts in their old age.
She will be missed by her many friends. In memory of Lucille, blood may be donated to the American Red Cross. Also, financial support of the M.D.S. Foundation or the Leukemia Foundation she thought would be meaningful.
Her funeral will be held Wednesday at 9:00AM from the Fournier and Fournier Funeral Home, 99 Cumberland St. Woonsocket, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM in St. Charles Church, North Main St, Woonsocket. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery, Blackstone. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 5-7 PM.