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Lucille Blass Obituary

BLASS, Lucille Lucille Ruth Greenberg Blass passed away at the age of 91 on July 2, 2014, at the Halifax Health Hospice Center in Port Orange, Florida. Lucille was a true fighter and survivor. After successfully beating lung and breast cancer earlier in her life, she finally succumbed after a yearlong bout with ovarian cancer. She will be dearly missed by her family. Lucille was born in Joliet, Illinois, on September 17, 1922, to Samuel and Sarah (Sanders) Greenberg. She spent her entire childhood in Joliet, eventually graduating from Joliet Junior College in 1942. She then went on to finish her college education at the University of Illinois, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1944. After college, Lucille moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she worked as a newsletter editor for The Fair department store. As her friends and family can attest, Lucille remained a lifelong writer and avid correspondent. In 1951, she married her husband, Norman Blass. Norman and Lucille started a family and moved many times throughout the country, living in Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, and Michigan, before settling in 1967 in Sacramento, California, for the next ten years. After a brief period in Dayton, Ohio, Norman and Lucille divorced in 1979 and Lucille started a new life in Texas, before ultimately returning to Sacramento in 1988. For the next 24 years, Lucille claimed Sacramento as her home and was extremely active in a number of volunteer organizations. An ardent feminist, she kept well abreast of California and national politics, advocating on behalf of women and senior citizens, as well as on health care issues. As part of this work, she served as secretary for the Older Women's League and was also very involved with both the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah, an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. In 2005, Hadassah named Lucille as its Woman of the Year. In 2012, to be closer to family, Lucille moved to Holly Hill, Florida, where she resided at the Riviera Senior Living Center. Lucille enjoyed classic films and music, spirited debates, and sometimes, a good bawdy joke. Reflecting on her full life and exuberant personality, she liked to note that even though she had gotten on in years, "this old broad's still got it!" Lucille is predeceased by her parents and sister, Evelyn Alper, and survived by her son and daughter-in-law Jeffrey and Cam Blass and daughter and son-in-law Shelley and Michael Egger. Lucille is also survived by her grandchildren Bronwen Blass (Jeremy Works), Drew Blass (Sara), Dwight Blass (Laurie Chapman), Galina Blass, Joshua Egger, and Ilana Egger and great-grandchildren Rhys Works and Jonah Blass. A memorial service will be held at the Hospice Center Chapel in Port Orange on August 9, 2014. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Older Women's League, 1625 K Street, NW, Suite 1275, Washington, D.C. 20006, or to the Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia/Flagler at 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Florida 32129.

Published by The Sacramento Bee on Jul. 22, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Lucille is missed. A true advocate and leader, a creative and talented woman who worked to make life better for others. Thank you Lucille. It was a great pleasure and honor to have worked with you.

Clare Smith

July 30, 2014

It is not often that one tries to help make this word a better place. Lucille was one of them as far as women and senior issues.

C. T. Weber

July 26, 2014

Sorry for your loss.

Ruby Works

July 22, 2014

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