William Bill Blanchard
June 1, 1947 ~ December 7, 2017
Resided in:
Swannanoa, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
William F. “Bill” Blanchard, 70, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2017.
Born in Hartford, CT, Bill was a son of the late William Frederick Blanchard, Jr. and Mary Plummer Blanchard. He was co-owner, with his wife, of B&B Tile Company and was a Navy veteran who served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the early 70’s.
Bill was an active member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church where he was a former Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid sports fan, but more importantly a man who was devoted to his family. He received his BA in Social work at North Georgia State College, Dahlonega.
Surviving are his wife, Susan Senopole Blanchard; daughter, Jacquelyn Peck (John); son, Anthony Eterno; sisters, Jacqueline, Karen and Lori; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Joey Eterno.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Margaret Mary Church, or to the Basilica of St. Lawrence.
It was always a blessing and a gift to be on the receiving end of Bill’s extraordinary kindness. While I sometimes wondered what I did to deserve being such a direct recipient I will forever carry those many experiences of his friendship, including the visits at his hospital bedside, in my memory and in my heart.
Thank you my friend, mentor, guardian, and (second) Dad. May the earthly life I now must live without you prove itself to be worthy of your trust, your love, your affirmation and that magnificent gift of friendship and kindness you first so graciously extended to me those many years ago.
We won’t be able ever to gaze at the altar of St. Margaret Mary Church and not think of Bill. He was such a long and faithful server of our church and people. We thank you Bill, and will remember you in our hearts and prayers always!
Rita and Don Hoefling