Marie J. (Battaglini) Blake

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Marie J. (Battaglini) Blake, 78, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on Monday, June 29, 2026 after a long illness.

Marie was born on March 10, 1948, to the late Dante J. and Jean E. (Sullivan) Battaglini. A proud lifelong resident of Fitchburg, she graduated from Fitchburg High School with the Class of 1966. Marie possessed a lifelong love of learning, ultimately earning degrees from Mount Wachusett Community College and UMASS Boston, before completing her teaching certification at Franklin Pierce University.

Marie was a woman of many talents who brought dedication and a warm, serving heart to every role she held. Throughout her life, she worked at Depot Distributors, assisted her father with the family monument dealership, shaped young minds as an elementary school teacher at Twin City Baptist School, and connected with her community as a field representative for the U.S. Census Bureau.

An active and generous spirit, Marie filled her life with the things she loved most. She found great joy in dancing, her Bible study, and helping others however she could. Above all, her greatest happiness came from spending time with her family and friends. Nothing made her face light up more than her six grandchildren, who were the absolute joy of her life.

Marie is reunited in heaven with her beloved husband of 40 years, Richard L. Blake.

Her memory will be forever cherished by her loving family: her two sons, Jason R. Thomas and his wife Wendy, and Christopher S. Thomas; her sister Emilia Kavanagh and her husband Mark; and her sister Anita Lanza and her husband Frank. Marie’s legacy lives on through her six treasured grandchildren, Dylan, Seth, Gavin, Patrick Ledue, Anthony, and Sophia, as well as her nephews, Darren Lanza (and wife Angela) and her Godson, Marc Lanza.

We are very grateful for the exceptional service provided by the French Connection, Trinity Assistance and Sunrise of Leominster and for their devoted care and support.

Calling hours will beheld on Thursday, July 9 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Richardson Funeral Home, 106 West St., Leominster with a graveside service to follow in Forest Hill Cemetery at 11:30 AM.

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