Helen B. Blanchard

Helen Berniece Blanchard, nee Cindric, 91, passed away June 30, 2012 in El Paso, Texas. Helen was born May 5, 1921 in Filbert, Pennsylvania to Croatian immigrants Marco Cindric and Caroline Obranovich. Her family of five brothers and three sisters personified the hard working "Greatest Generation" of Americans who grew up in the Depression, won World War II and went on to build the American Dream for their families. Helen was a proud 1939 graduate of Canton Ohio's McKinley High School. She married Earl Granville Blanchard in 1947 and gave birth to their daughter Cynthia Carol in 1948. The Blanchards moved to northeast El Paso in 1959.

A devoted public servant with over forty years of government service, Helen worked for the State of Ohio for ten years, and for thirty years with the US Army at Fort Bliss. Her numerous awards and commendations from the Army were some of her most prized possessions.

helen was very involved in her community, working for the El Paso Tuberulosis Association, volunteering with the Irvin High School PTA, and as an award-winning member of the Northeast Garden Club.

A craft maker extraordinaire, accomplished gardener, terrific cook and diehard Steelers' fan, Helen was also an avid bingo player, who was well known in the bingo halls across Northeast El Paso.

Her husband of 65 years, Earl Blanchard; her five brothers and three sister; and grandson Christopher Joseph Kelley precede Helen in death.

"Nanny," as she was known by her family, is survived by her daughter Cynthia Kelley and husband Terrell of El Paso; stepdaughter Patricia Banker and husband Jerry of Anderson, Indiana; and stepson Earl Blanchard, Jr. and wife Rosemary of Largo, Florida. She had 15 grandchildren, inlcuding Amanda Crawford and husband Clark of Austin; Reagan Deal and husband Kevin of McKinney, Texas, and Evan Kelley of El Paso. She also had 28 great grandchildren, including Cate, Ava and Truman Crawford, and Colin Deal. Nanny even had two great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 6th from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Kaster-Maxon & Futrell Funeral Home, 8817 Dyer, with Rosary services at 7:00 p.m. Father Blake Fry will celebrate Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 7th at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, 8400 Byron Street. In lieu of flowers, donations to Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church are requested. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park.