Blanche Emily (Goalby) Westrich, 101, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully on the morning of Jan. 11 at LincolnHealth – Miles Campus in Damariscotta. She was born on Aug. 8, 1913 to Frank and Emily (Erlinger) Goalby in Centreville Township, Ill.
In 1933, she married Enos Westrich and began raising her family. In 1951, a transfer took the family to Westfield, N.J. When Enos died in 1973, she continued to live in Westfield until her daughter, Arlene Robinson and her son-in-law Harry moved to Maine to take over Damariscotta Lake Farm Restaurant and Cottage Community. She would summer in Maine, baking desserts for the restaurant, and winter in New Jersey until permanently moving to Maine in 1983.
Blanche had a green thumb, and her gardens were the envy of the neighborhood. She enjoyed all of nature, especially blue birds and cardinals, and was an avid Patriots and Red Sox fan. Until recently she was an active member of the Saint Patrick Shamrocks.
In addition to her husband of 40 years, she was predeceased by her parents; brother, Delmar and sister-in-law, Dorothy (Hubert) Goalby; sister, Mildred and brother-in-law, Howard Rowe; nieces, Sister Karen Row and Lindy (Goalby) Burpo; son-in-law, Harry Robinson; and great-grandson, Eric Richard Westrich.
She is survived sons, Theodore and wife Nannette of Belford, N.J., Robert and wife Suzanne of Jefferson, and Ronald and wife Patricia of Cheshire, Conn.; daughter, Arlene Robinson of Jefferson; 14 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A time of visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thurs., Jan. 15 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m., Fri., Jan. 16 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newcastle. She will be laid to rest with her husband in the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor go to your favorite charity.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
