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Manning-Heffern-O’Neill Funeral Home - Pawtucket

220 Cottage St.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Rolland Blanchette Obituary

PAWTUCKET - Rolland H. Blanchette, 92, of Pawtucket, passed away peacefully at home, Saturday, June 06, 2015. He was the husband of Alice (Bouley) McCarthy Blanchette. He was also the husband of the late Irene
(Luttrell) Blanchette. Born in Central Falls, he was the son of the late Irenee and Yvonne (Laperche) Blanchette.
Mr. Blanchette graduated from Bryant College in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, and was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II. During World War II, 1st Lieutenant Rolland Blanchette was assigned to B-29 missions in the Pacific, serving as lead bombardier on 32 missions over Japan. His heroic actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross three times and the Air Medal five times.
After the war, Rolland became a self-employed public accountant, and he ran a very successful insurance business. He worked 60 years, retiring at the age of 91 in 2014.
He was Councilman-At-Large on the Pawtucket City Council for 18 years, from 1954, and was president of the council for 10 of those years. Rolland had served as secretary of the Republican State Central Committee, and ran for Secretary of State in 1960 and, at the urging of the then governor John H. Chafee, for U.S. Congress in 1964.
He served on numerous boards, including the Navigant Credit Union, formerly Credit Union Central Falls, Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, and Gateway Mental Health. He was very active in his church parish, Saint Teresa's of Pawtucket, where he was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council, and he served as Treasurer of the parish for many years. He was a life member of the LeFoyer Club, Pawtucket and was a member and Treasurer of the former To Kalon Club of Pawtucket.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Joan Dunn of Pawtucket, Stephen Blanchette of Seekonk, MA, Teresa Lamonde of Pawtucket, Joseph Blanchette of N. Scituate, Mary Dingley of Smithfield, Michael Blanchette, of N. Reading, MA, and his stepson, John McCarthy of S. Carolina, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. He was the father of the late Thomas and Vincent Blanchette. He is also survived by his brother Leo Blanchette of Florida and his sister Rita Gariepy of Pawtucket.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday at 10am in Saint Teresa Church, 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen. Arrangements by Costigan-O'Neill Funeral Home, Pawtucket. www.oneillfuneralhomes.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Pawtucket Times from Jun. 8 to Jun. 16, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Rolland Blanchette

Sponsored by Manning-Heffern-O’Neill Funeral Home - Pawtucket.

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Marcel Robert

June 3, 2019

He was a great friend and mentor.

June 13, 2015

I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Please find peace and comfort in Psalms 119:76.

Cheryl & Rene Bricault

June 11, 2015

Steve and Denise, so sorry to hear of your father's passing. May he rest in peace with the angels.

Kelly and Brian Napolillo

June 11, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, may you find peace in the happiest of memories.

June 10, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Blanchette family in your time of grief.

Roy and Helena Taylor

David Banigan

June 10, 2015

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Lloyd Robertson

June 10, 2015

I will miss my friend from Pawtucket and the Gateway Board. You are in peace now and have always given more to the community than you expected back. Rest my friend. We thank you for your loyal service to your country, family, friends and community. You, Lloyd Robertson Chair of the Gateway Foundation, Pawtucket, RI

Alan Poisson

June 10, 2015

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Don & Mary Morin

June 10, 2015

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this remarkable man, and many thanks to him for his past service. May he rest in eternal peace

Karen Lee Casale

June 9, 2015

To Joe, Donna ,Hannah and the entire Blanchette family
So sorry for your loss and you are in my prayers

Marcel Robert

June 9, 2015

My greatest sympathy to the Blanchette family. Rolland was both a friend and a mentor for me in my practice as an accountant. We all will miss him, however he is waiting for us in heaven.

June 9, 2015

Joe and Donna, so sorry for your loss. God Bless Darlene and Ed Rambone

Valerie

June 9, 2015

So sorry for your loss...thoughts, prayers and love to you all

Leanne Gagnon

June 9, 2015

To my lifelong friend Michelle Blanchette and her family , I am so sorry for your loss. I have many wonderful memories with Mr. Blanchette , who kindly included me in many outings with his granddaughter . Narraganset beach and Auntie Carries Restaurant are just a couple places he took me. He welcomed me into his home for holiday celebrations and his place of business formerly on Central avenue in Pawtucket. He actually was the first person to professionally do my taxes almost 18 years ago. I am thankful for the wonderful memories and good times . May he rest peacefully in heaven and be reunited with those loved ones he lost.

June 8, 2015

He may be gone from this earth but his spirit will always be with you.

Nicole Magowan

June 8, 2015

Rest in Paradise Pe'pe, we will see you again someday, we love you very much!

~Nikki, Zack,& Valarie

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220 Cottage St., Pawtucket, RI 02860

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