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Blanche Emma Zembower
Blanche Emma Zembower
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An enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Nation and great great granddaughter of Hushasha, Chief of the Wa'hpekute Dakota of Minnesota, she grew up in Porcupine, S.D. on the Pine Ridge reservation where her father Rev. Chris Whipple was assigned as an Episcopal priest. She attended boarding school at St. Mary's Episcopal Indian school for girls in Springfield, S.D. & graduated from Pine Ridge High School in 1951. After high school she attended nursing school in Lawton, OK via the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She was then assigned to the VA hospital in MN where she cared for veterans with spinal cord injuries during the Vietnam War. She later worked at the VA hospital in Denver.
After the tragic loss of her two sons in 1974 in a drowning accident at Bishop Hare Episcopal Indian School for boys in Mission, SD she left the nursing field and later turned her attention to charity work through CANA (Caring Association for Native Americans) which she co-founded in the 1980's. A life long Episcopalian with a servant's heart she wholly dedicated her life to serving those in need and ministering to Native Americans & their families brought to Denver area hospitals for care. She won multiple awards & honors for her work and was once dubbed "the Mother Teresa of Denver".
Blanche is survived by daughters Ramona J Nelson of Denver CO, Jacqueline (Zembower) Schutte & husband Stephen of Castle Rock CO, Lynda (Zembower) Clark of Lawton, OK, 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces & nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Christian & Estherlyn Whipple, husbands Richard Nelson & Jack B Zembower, sons Richard & Darrell Nelson, grandson Darrell V. Nelson, brothers James (Jimmy) Whipple, James (Buddy) Whipple, Harlan Whipple, sisters Florence (Whipple) Wilson, Phyllis (Whipple) Fox & Evelyn (Whipple) Hart as well as many other beloved family members & friends.
Her oral history is recorded at the Denver Public Library thanks to Saint Johns Cathedral and she had a very small part in the movie "Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, March 23rd, 3-5 pm at Church of The Holy Redeemer 2552 N Williams St. Denver, CO. Services to celebrate her life will be Monday, March 24th, 11am with reception to follow at Saint John's Cathedral 1350 N. Washington St. Denver, CO. A procession will follow to Fort Logan Cemetery for interment with her beloved sons and husband Jack.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Saint John's Cathedral, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Lakota Way Healing Center or Four Winds American Indian Council.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Mary Welker-Haddock
March 20, 2025
I had the privilege of bringing communion to Blanche for the last seven years of her life.
Towards the end I would often find Blanche dozing. At first I was hesitant to wake her, but because the nurse encouraged me, I would say "Blanche, it's Mary from St. John's. Would you like communion?" Immediately she would wake up and say, "Yes, let's go."
We would start our little service with Blanche saying a prayer in her own language. This would progress to a tender conversation between Blanche and the Lord, in which she shared her concerns for all of her loved ones.
Until the very end Blanche joined me in saying the Lord's Prayer.
When I handed her the communion waver, she took it, closed her eyes and savored the wafer for a long time. And when I handed her the little chalice of wine, she drank every drop.
Blanche always thanked me for coming, and I left feeling blessed.
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Shelley Stash
March 20, 2025
Blanche's infectious laughter and her warm-hearted nature created an indelible mark on everyone she met. My first encounter with her was through CANA (Caring Association for Native Americans), where her unwavering dedication to uplifting the Native American community shone brightly. She tirelessly worked to support families and individuals in need, ensuring they had access to essential resources such as food, hotel accommodations, and gas vouchers for those traveling to visit loved ones during hospital stays. Her compassionate visits to hospitals were a true reflection of her caring spirit, bringing comfort and hope to those facing difficult times. The void left by her absence is profound, and I will deeply miss her.
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