Obituary of Marie "Blanche" MacDonald

Marie Blanche MacDonald (nee Joanis)

August 21, 1927 –  May 19, 2024

Blanche MacDonald of Red Deer passed away at the age of 96 years.

She was born in St. Denis, Saskatchewan to Imelda and Leo Joanis, the eldest of seven children. She was schooled in a one-room schoolhouse until going to the convent in Prud’homme for high school. She attended teachers’ college and began her lifetime career in education, which she put on hold while she had her three boys. At the death of her husband at the age of 34, she returned to teaching, completing her Education degree in 1976.  She taught in the Catholic School System in Lloydminster until her retirement at 60 years of age.

Her beloved husband, Raymond Cameron MacDonald and eldest son, Neil MacDonald predeceased her.  Also gone, but cherished, were her parents, brother, Jim and sisters, Irene and Lillian.

She was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother. She had 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. It did not matter how the child joined the family in the way modern families go – they all were special to Mom.  

Red Deer Funeral Home & Crematorium by Arbor Memorial ably handled cremation services and transportation. McCaw Funeral Service in Lloydminster will be completing the Funeral Services and interment arrangements.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church in Lloydminster on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM with a reception to follow. Interment will be immediately following the funeral mass. 

If you so desire, Mom requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Canadian Cancer Society or Heart and Stroke Foundation.