Lenora Pauline Blouin

1941 - 2015

Lenora Pauline Blouin
July 7, 1941 - October 20, 2015
Resident of San Jose
Lenora Pauline Blouin of San Jose, CA passed away October 20th 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. Lenora peacefully departed to continue her journey with her niece, Diane Enbody and dearest friend, Susan Blackman by her side. Lenora never complained throughout her valiant fight and looked at each new day as a gift and a miracle. She touched and inspired countless lives, and was a mentor to many. Lenora will truly be missed. Anyone who knew Lenora was immediately struck by her intellect, wisdom, outrageous sense of humor and her raucous laughter.
Born in Seattle July 7, 1941, Lenora's parents, Leonard Theodore and Pauline Marguerite Blouin eventually settled on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound and named their little farm Hope View. There Lenora discovered her first love, Bessie the cow. After that came dogs, cats, chickens, Stella the duck, and a goat or two. When she was barely able to pick up a shovel, her father taught her the love of gardening, a gift that was to bring joy to her and friends all of her life. Her gardens were always beautiful and bountiful; marigolds were her favorite flower, especially the large pom-pom variety.
At age 7, Lenora and family moved to San Jose, CA where her increasing love of reading flourished. She graduated from San Jose High School, and then received her Associate of Arts degree from San Jose City College. Soon after, Lenora attended California State University San Jose, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree, and following that she was awarded her Master of Arts - English, and Master of Arts - Librarianship. None of this was easy as she worked her way through college, balancing trays of food at a local diner.
Lenora's first "official" job was as a Young Adult Librarian at the Santa Clara City Library. She eventually worked at what is now the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose. There she was employed again as a Young Adult Librarian, and was delighted to drive the Bookmobile. Lenora eventually became Head of the Reference, a position she was extremely proud to hold until her retirement in 1996.
Always a "fan" of women writers, Lenora came upon a book called "Plant Dreaming Deep" by poet, memoirist and novelist May Sarton. This discovery changed the course of her life, as she devoured everything she could find by this author. Ever the scholar, Lenora published "May Sarton: A Bibliography" by The Scarecrow Press in 1978. Lenora continued to read Sarton's writing and knew a second edition was needed. She retired at age 55, to pursue her life's avocation. In 2000, "May Sarton: A Bibliography, 2nd Edition" was published. She was chosen as a key note speaker for the May Sarton Centennial Symposium, May 2012 in York, Maine. It is not surprising that Lenora was continuing research on her third edition at the time of her passing.
Lenora was a devoted member of the Campbell United Methodist Church. She made so many dear friends, taught Disciple classes and thoroughly enjoyed the music and sermons. After her very first visit, she knew this was a church she would call home.
Lenora is survived by her sisters Yvonne Smith (Bill) in Arizona, Sylvia Hasenohrl (Fred) in Tennessee and brother Donald Blouin (Fumiko) in California, as well as her many nieces and nephews. In addition to her many friends, Lenora is survived by Linda K. McGooden Hedges of McCook, NE, and Susan L. Blackman of San Carlos, CA. Her beloved cat "Girlie", will live with Linda in Nebraska.
Friends and family are invited to Lenora's Celebration of Life Saturday November 14th at 1:00PM at the Campbell United Methodist Church, 1675 Winchester Blvd, Campbell, CA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, The Campbell United Methodist Church or your favorite charity.


View the online memorial for Lenora Pauline Blouin