It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Maria Blanchard. Born on December 19, 1946, in Lucca, Italy to Lino Filippi and Teresa Giovannoni (nee Ghilarducci), Maria spent most of her childhood with her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Amalia Ghilarducci, in a church along the beautiful Tuscan hills and was where she was introduced to the first love of her life: her faith. She would then move with her family to Mexico and later to the United States, where she, her mother, stepfather, and sister, Linetta, settled in Stockton while her father stayed in San Diego.
Maria had always been a fighter-even as a child, where she overcame language barriers of Spanish and English and excelled in school. Writing was always her favorite, and as she grew older--her penmanship became the envy of all who knew her. Her most notable specialty was her charm, and it was through that charm she met the love of her life for over 40 years, August Blanchard.
After a whirlwind romance, they married in Carson City, Nevada and had two beautiful children, Pamela and David. At first, Maria was a home keeper, tending to the needs of not only her children but also her in-laws Park and Aurelia (nee Origone) Blanchard and her sister-in-law, Mary. She provided her children a happy and loving upbringing, spending days along Comanche Lake with them and many trips to San Diego to visit her father, stepmother, and half-sisters. Yet Maria also was a hard worker, sacrificing her beloved role as a stay-at-home mom for working in the Blanchard family's cherry and walnut fields and as an employee at Diamond Walnut for 17 years. She later worked for the Stockton Unified School District for 10 years and was renowned for the light and love she brought into the lives of all she met. After she retired, she had unlimited time to spend with her husband, her now adult children, and her four beloved grandchildren. Family was important to Maria, and all her grandkids fondly remember time spent with her playing board games, eating all the amazing meals she cooked, or even calling her just to say "hi."
Maria is survived by her two children: Pamela (Tony) Mazzei and David (Kelly) Blanchard, four grandchildren: Joey (Emily), Chris, and Lauren Blanchard, and Tyler Mazzei, sisters: Anna "Linetta" Filippi, Alaide Reyes, Gina Otanez, and Lina Filippi, stepmother: Rosa Barajas, and numerous friends near and far. She was predeceased by both of her parents, her stepfather Samuele Giovannoni, her in-laws, many friends and family dear, and the love of her life, August Blanchard with whom she is finally reunited with. To celebrate her long and vivacious life, a rosary service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 6pm at DeYoung Memorial Chapel to reminisce on all the wonderful memories shared with her. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to a charity of your choice.
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