BLANCH: Cecilia
The Blanch family regretfully announces the death of their mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother Cecilia Blanch (nee Saretsky), 98 years of St. Mary's Villa, Humboldt on Friday, October 17, 2014. Cecilia was born in the Burr district to Alex and Anna (nee Gursky) Saretsky on December 29, 1915, a date she shares with her mother Anna and her daughter Karen. She married Leo Blanch on October 25, 1938 and lived in Muenster for a few years, before moving to a farm south west of the town, where she and Leo raised their nine children. She experienced a life of joy and hardship common to that time, household responsibilities, including everything from weekly bread baking, sewing, washing clothes and ironing for hours, seasoning the sausage in fall from the game taken by Leo and certain sons, and making the best of the many scarcities of the early years were her main occupations. In addition to her devotion as a mother, she was also devoted to her little country church, St. Gertrude and the women's group, which nourished her faith. Retiring to Muenster in 1974, she enjoyed many good years, actively involved in family births, wedding and sporting activities. She would surprise everyone at times by being the last dancer on the floor at family wedding dances, or be in the center of the circle as grandchildren sang and danced around her to the song "Cecilia". Age and its consequences eventually stole her strength and spirit, and the last few years she looked forward to her death and the promise of her faith. Her life can be properly summarized by the titles of 3 of her favourite songs. It was The Church in the Wildwood that inspired her, Whispering HopeAll Through the Nighttaking her to her final place of rest. Cecilia will be lovingly remembered by her seven children and 26 grandchildren: MURRAY (Stefanie) Blanch of Saskatoon and family, Kelly (Darlene) Blanch, Debbie (Norm) Joanis, and Michelle (David) Climenhaga; ANNE (Joe) Menz of Humboldt and family, Lorie Menz (Glenn Wildeman), Donna (Rob) Muench, Sandy (Ken) Angelstad, and Darryl (Niamh) Menz; Bernadette's family, Brent (Sherri) Danchilla, Elana (Trevor) Balabuk, and Lisa (James) Jakubiec; KAREN (Allan) Korte of Saskatoon and family, Jason Korte, Devin (Jen) Korte, and Curt (Lianne) Korte; MARY (Roger) Hofmann of Muenster and family, Carey (Dean) Terichow, Chad (Tara) Hofmann, Jocelyn Hofmann, and Justin (Sarah) Hofmann; PATRICK (Sharon) Blanch of Muenster and family, Brigette (Kurt) Hofmann, Felicia (Vic) Bishara and Derek (Ashley) Blanch; GEORGE (Dawn) Blanch of Humboldt and family, Naomi (Joe) Monsoor, Jessica Blanch and Kelsey Blanch; and COLLEEN (Tom) Gray of Muenster and family, Jeff (Kendra) Gray, Michael (Paul) Gray, and Nathan (Tanis) Gray; daughter in-law, Margaret Blanch of Regina; 43 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; two sisters and one brother: Anne Smith, Joan Pritchard, and Felix (Lorraine) Saretsky; sisters-in-law, Barb Saretsky, Veronica Saretsky and Yvonne Saretsky; brother-in-law, Maurice Vinet; and numerous nieces and nephews. Cecilia was predeceased by her husband, Leo Blanch (2004); daughters: Joan in infancy (1955) and Bernadette Danchilla (2008); son, Bill (2012); son-in-law, Don Danchilla (2008); parents, Alex and Anna Saretsky; four sisters and four brothers: Madeline, Lenore, Mildred, Agnes, George, Rudy, Emil and Jake. A Prayer Service for Cecilia was held on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Muenster, led by Garry Loehr. The Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Cathedral, celebrated by Fr. Daniel Muyres, OSB. Interment followed at St. Gertrude Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Gertrude Cemetery or St. Mary's Villa Foundation. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home, Humboldt.
