Blanche (Beauvais) Deschenes

Blanche Beauvais Deschenes was born on December 10, 1923 and sadly passed away on December 20, 2020 at the age of 97. She had been living at Douglas Jacobson State Veterans Home in Port Charlotte, Florida, where she received excellent care for the last 10 years. She made many friends there and enjoyed the activities. She especially loved the sing-alongs and entertainment. She also loved to sing at church service.

Blanche grew up in Cleghorn in a close family of five sisters and one brother. They spent lots of time together singing, dancing, and enjoying each other. Blanche and her husband Alfred Deschenes, who passed away in 2008 both served in the US Navy during World War II. Blanche enjoyed her many years working at the Fitchburg City Hall where she met lots of people from the area. A few of you may remember that Blanche was an accomplished figure skater. She was well known in the Fitchburg area for her skating. Blanche and Al raised their two children Janet and Tom in Cleghorn. When they retired they enjoyed traveling in their RV. They especially enjoyed Florida in the winter, and eventually bought a home in Englewood, FL.

Blanche is survived by her daughter, Janet Deschenes Knox of Naples, FL, her only surviving sister, Tess Delke of Englewood, FL, her two grandsons, Steven Riggs who lives in Thailand, and Thomas Knox of Shirley, MA, Tom's wife, Karen Knox, and their children, Brody and Anya Knox. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Blanche was the mother of the late Thomas Knox, who was a Paratrooper in the Army Airborne Division, and was tragically killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. Some of you may have seen the memorials in Fitchburg Center honoring Tom and honoring her son-in-law, husband of her daughter Janet; Steven Riggs Sr., who also died in Vietnam. She was so proud of both young men. Despite the tragedies she bravely weathered, Blanche lived a very long, very happy life, and she will be missed.

The family requests that any donations made in memory of Blanche, should be made to the Patient Funds at Douglas Jacobson State Veterans Home, 21281 Grayton Ter, Port Charlotte Florida 33954.

A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, August 11 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Church, 49 Woodland St., Fitchburg. Burial will follow in the Parish cemetery.

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