Gertrude C. Blancher

HAMMONDSPORT - Gertrude C. Blancher, 88, of 31 Liberty St. passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at the Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital.

She was born August 20, 1918 in Perkinsville, the daughter of Archie and Evelyn Isaman Sick. Her husband Earl G. Blancher pre-deceased her on January 5, 1989.

Gertrude was a nurse for 40 plus years, she worked at the Old Bath Hospital, the Bath VAMC and then retired from Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital in 1981.

She was very active in the following organizations, the Wine Country Senior Citizens, Project Care, Hammondsport Organ Club, the Thursday Nighters, The United Methodist Women UMW Memorial Fund Chairperson of the Bazarrs, Harvest Dinners and Rummage and Bake sales at the Hammondsport Methodist Church, Member of the church advisory commitee, and the church missions committee, member of the church choir, member of the Sarah Circle, Sunday School Superintendent, and held Sunday school classes at her home due to lack of space at the church, made visitatiosn to shut ins several times a month and also took them communion, Chairperson ofthe monthly newsletter at the Church, counselor for Methodist Youth Fellowship for many years, led classes for widows, and led classes for adults that were abused as children. She was also a dispatcher for the Hammonsport Volunteer Ambulance Corp, for 13 years from 1991to 2004, she had also traveled to Haiti as an missionary from 1998-2002 and was named Steuben County Senior Citizen of the year and also Methodist Layperson of the year both of 1998.

Surviving are her son Lugene Blancher of St. Petersburgh, Florida, daughters Trudy Young of Hammondsport, Marvella (Bill) Cambpell of Jupiter, Florida, and Terry Dickerson of Dundee, sister Marie Tears of Hammondsport, 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and on great great grandchild.

She was pre-deceased by her daughter Darlene Wodarshi in 1982 and grandson Lugene Glenn Blancher in 1997.

Friends called Saturday, January 20, from 5-8p.m. and today, Sunday, January 21, from 1-2 p.m. at the LaMarche Funeral Home, 35 Main St., Hammondsport where funeral and committal services will take place today at 2 p.m. Rev. Paul Rowley will officiate and interment in Pleasant Valley Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family.

In liew of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hammondsport Volunteer Amulance Corp of the Hammondsport Methodist Church in her memory.