Esther E. Blanchard

WALTHAM Mrs. Esther E. (Palumbo) Blanchard, of Waltham, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, at Belmont Manor Nursing Home. She was 89. Born in Waltham on Sept. 27, 1918, a daughter of the late Pasquale and Maria (Ciceri) Palumbo, Esther had been a lifelong resident of Waltham. Until her retirement, she worked for many years for the Raytheon Company in Waltham. The wife of the late Aime A. Al Blanchard, and mother of the late Alfred A. Blanchard, she leaves her daughter-in-law, Enid (Koltov) Blanchard of Waltham; her brothers, Nicholas Palumbo of Weston and Paul Palumbo of Dennis, and many nieces and nephews. She was also a sister of the late Joseph, Anthony and Rose Palumbo, Ethel Sammarco and Sue DiGregorio. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 6, from The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St., (Rte. 20), Waltham, followed by a funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, 311 River St., Waltham, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of ones choice. To offer condolences online please visit www.joycefuneralhome.com.