Blanche M. McGrade Obituary (1921

for Blanche M. (Demers) McGrade Blanche M. (Demers) McGrade, age 97, passed away on January 23rd, at D'Youville Life and Wellness Community, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Walter F. McGrade Sr., who proceeded her in death, on December 6, 2004. Blanche was born in Lowell, Ma., on January 26, 1921, a daughter of the late Francis and Albina (Lamoureux) Demers. She was educated in the Dracut school system and was employed for many years as a seamstress for the Robert Leonard Dress Company. She put her exceptional talent to good use, making the wedding dress for President Lyndon B. Johnson's daughter, Lynda Bird (Johnson) Robb. In her free time, Blanche also loved designing and sewing dresses for her granddaughters and great-granddaughters. She spent her winters in Clearwater, Florida with her husband "Wally". They took many vacations over the years, including to Rome, Italy, which they enjoyed immensely and talked about often. She loved to play bingo and cards with her daughter "Cookie". Blanche is survived by her daughter and best friend, Frances "Cookie" (McGrade) Long and her husband Warren, of Dracut; a daughter-in-law, Rosaleen McGrade of Dracut; seven grandchildren, Sandra (McGrade) Kulis and her husband David, of Lowell, Susan (McGrade) Faticanti and her fiance Mark Sousa, of Salem, NH, William McGrade of Manchester, NH, Cheryl (Long) Blake and her husband Charles, of Hudson, NH, Deborah (Long) Vinal and her husband James, of Dracut, David Long and his wife Kristin (Collins), of Dunstable, and Paige (McGrade) Williamson and her husband Brian, of Nashville, TN. She also leaves 19 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Blanche was the mother of the late Walter "Herky" McGrade and Paul McGrade, and sister of the late Roland Demers, Raymond Demers, and Annette (Demers) Joynes. Blanche's family would like to express a special thank you to the Merrimack Valley Hospice as well as the D'Youville Life and Wellness Community for their compassionate treatment while she was under their care. ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends may pay their respects on Friday, February 1st, from 9-10:15AM in the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT, MA. Her Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 11AM in St. Marguerite D'Youville Parish, 1340 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT. Burial to follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Tewksbury, MA. For directions, or to leave an online condolence, story or message, please visit www.dracutfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook under "Dracut Funeral Home." Friday, February 1st, 2019 9:00am - 10:30am Dracut Funeral Home 2159 Lakeview Avenue DRACUT, MA 01826 Friday, February 1st, 2019 11:00am St. Marguerite D'Youville Parish 1340 Lakeview Avenue DRACUT, MA 01826 St. Mary Cemetery 90 River Road TEWKSBURY, MA 01876 Service Details Visitation When February 1, 2019 9:00am - 10:30am Location Dracut Funeral Home Address Service When February 1, 2019 11:00am Location Dracut Funeral Home Address Interment When February 1, 2019 11:00am Location Dracut Funeral Home Address