SMYRNA – Florence Frances Blanchard, formerly of Beaver Meadow Road, currently a resident of Grace Manor in Sherburne, passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton.
Born in Islington, London, England, she was a daughter of John W. and Florence Hillyer Howell. Fran spent three years as a WAAF in the RAF during World War II. She met her husband, Stewart Blanchard, when they were stationed in Kent, England where she was a wireless operator and he was in air-sea rescue. They were married in the Christ Church of Highbury, London, England on November 10, 1945. Fran arrived in the United States on the Queen Mary on Easter Sunday in 1946. Stewart predeceased her on Jan. 14, 1997. Fran worked in food service for over 15 years in the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District until her retirement. 
Fran was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Smyrna; the Smyrna Fire Department Auxiliary; and was a Republican committee member who worked on the election board for many years.
Surviving are her two sons and daughters-in-law, Kent S. and Bonnie Blanchard of Sherburne; Ronald K. Blanchard of Albany and Marilyn Blanchard of Smyrna; her grandchildren, Jeff Blanchard and Bonnie Blanchard of Smyrna; Katie Blanchard of Albany; Liza Blanchard and her fiancé Joshua Newman of Sherburne; Joseph Harvey of Smyrna; a great grandson, Adam Jeffrey Blanchard; a sister and brother, Vi Howell and John Howell, both of London England, several nieces, nephews and cousins, She was predeceased by a brother, Frederick Howell; a granddaughter, Julie L. Blanchard and three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Shaylee and Shianna Blanchard.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday from the First United Methodist  Church in Smyrna, followed by burial in the Taylor Rural Cemetery, Taylor.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church, c/o Barbara Parry, Treas., 321 County Rt. 20, Sherburne, NY 13460.