ATHOL – Mary F. (Krol) Blanchard, 99 of Athol passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at home.
Mary was born on September 27, 1921 in Sunderland to the late Stephen Krol and the late Stephania (Mazur) Krol. She grew up in Sunderland and graduated Deerfield High School.
Along with her husband Leo, Mary owned and operated the South Gardner Hotel for 23 years. She also worked at the Starrett Tool Company as an office clerk and in retirement, she worked at Bruce’s Pharmacy.
Mary was a communicant of Our Lady Immaculate Church, where she was a Eucharistic Minister for many years. She was extremely proud of her Polish heritage and taught the choir a song in Polish. She enjoyed sewing, artificial flower making and crossword puzzles. She enjoyed spending time with her family. The family would like to thank, Marlene Chiasson for all the care she gave to Mary over the past years.
Mary is survived by her son, Lee Blanchard and his wife Donna; her daughter, Karen Blanchard; two brothers, Edwin Krol and his wife Sylvia and Alfred Krol; two sister-in-laws, Glennis Blanchard and Jane Hicks; two grandchildren, Charlene Moran and her husband Jason and Robert Blanchard; two great grandchildren, Heather Vollman and her husband Eric and Timothy Sweeney and companion Jessie; four great-great-grandchildren, Jordan Bright, Micah Vollman, Jonah Vollman and Rachel Vollman; many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Leo J. Blanchard; one brother, Thaddeus Krol; two sisters, Stasia Boyden and Stella Deleo.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol.
A calling hour will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. on Thursday in the Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Rd., Orange.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mary’s name may be sent to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215 or to the Athol Senior Center, 82 Freedom St., Athol, MA 01331.
To leave an online condolence, please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com
Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Rd, Orange is assisting with arrangements.