Bertha Marie (Gallien) Blaser

Bertha M. Blaser Orange – Bertha Marie (Gallien) Blaser, 90, of 760 South Main Street, died Sunday, April 26, 2015 surrounded by her loving family.       Bertha was born August 2, 1924 in Athol, MA, the daughter of Maxim and Mary (Hachey) Gallien.  She spent her early childhood years in Athol and then moved to Shirley to live with her uncle and aunt whom she resided with for 12 years. She attended French parochial schools while she was in their care.  She later moved to Lynn for 3 years and then returned back to the Athol-Orange area, living in Orange most of her life. The last few years of her life she spent living with her devoted granddaughter Sarah and her family who took care of her.      Bertha worked at the Athol Comb Shop, N.D. Cass Company, the L.S. Starrett Company, J.F. McElwain Shoe Shop and was also a nanny and did housekeeping for many families before starting her own family. She enjoyed baking, gardening, drawing, crocheting, sewing and arranging flowers. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In previous years, she was a member of both St. Mary’s Church in Orange and Our Lady Immaculate Church in Athol.      She leaves two sons, William A. Blaser Jr. of Yarmouth Port, MA and Robert J. Blaser of Phillipston, MA. She leaves a daughter, Rosemary Bushee of FL, a sister Yvonne Cassin of Keene, NH, two brothers Armand Gallien of Hemet, CA and Emile Gallien of Arundel, ME. She also leaves nine grandchildren, several great grandchildren and a great great grandchild.      She was predeceased by her husband William A. Blaser Sr. in 2000, her son Gregory in 1989, her daughter Teresa Terry in 2009 and several brothers and sisters.      A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 8th at 11:00AM at Mount Grace Community Church with Pastor Nicholas Morin officiating, followed directly by a celebration of life. There will be a private graveside service and burial held at a later date.  Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol is directing arrangements.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });