Blanche P. Slowick

Blanche Slowick of Uncasville, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2023. She was 97.

The endeared wife of the late John Slowick, Blanche was the beloved mother of Susan Slowick and her husband, Vernon Chambers, and of Glenn Slowick and his wife, Kate Mealing. She was the cherished grandmother (“Bapchie”) of Gabryel Smith, Natasha Smith (Nancy Repreza) and Elisa Smith.

Blanche was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on April 1, 1926. Her parents, Adam and Agnes (Rzasa) Muskus were Polish immigrants who came to Norwich in the early part of the 20th century to work in the textile mills along the Thames River. Blanche’s many stories of her childhood escapades with friends and cousins in Thamesville and of her life-long adventures with her adored sister, Stella, have delighted her children and grandchildren for decades.

After attending the Norwich Free Academy, at a time when women were not encouraged to pursue a career, Blanche did so anyway. Becoming a skilled bookkeeper, she first worked at the US Finishing Company in Greenville. Then, for many years, while also raising her family, she held the lead bookkeeping position at Builders Tile Company in Uncasville. Nor would she let social norms dissuade her enthusiasm for helping in her community—she was an active participant and volunteer for the Mohegan Fire Company Women’s Auxiliary and the Women’s Democratic League of Montville, and she served as chairwoman of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra Parent Committee.

In her later years, Blanche became a devoted and very active participant at the Montville Senior Center and was their elected Treasurer for many years. The “Center” became her second home and the source of personal fulfillment of hobbies both old and new. Throughout her life, dancing was Blanche’s passion, and, here, at the Center, she could often be seen twirling up a storm on the dance floor, meticulously executing steps from ballroom to country line dancing. Blanche frequently credited the Center for the discovery of what became yet another passion-- painting. Under the guidance of the Center’s art program, Blanche’s artistic talents quickly emerged. She loved the hours spent painting during classes and became a prolific artist in her own right. Many of her works now adorn the walls of friends and relatives, as she would have wished.

Most of all, Blanche will be fondly remembered by all who knew her as a caring and generous soul with a personality that would light up the room. Children would gravitate to her like a magnet, and, for everyone of all ages, she always knew what to do or say to make things better. Her words of wisdom will be sorely missed.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, September 11, at 2:00 pm, at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Norwich, followed by a “Celebration of Life” gathering.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Blanche’s name can be made to the Montville Senior Center Art Program, 12 Maple Avenue, Uncasville CT 06382