- Date Of Birth: April 27, 1929
- Date Of Death: November 15, 2018
- State: Illinois
Rumor has it that Marilyn has already begun organizing things in Heaven.
Marilyn J. Blanchette, 89, died Thursday morning, November 15, 2018, at Heritage Health in Jacksonville following a series of debilitating strokes over several years.
Marilyn lost her husband of 60 years, Paul, on August 1, 2018. She is survived by son David (wife Kathy) of Jacksonville; daughter Paula Buckley of Glen Ellyn; son Daniel (wife Rubelyne) of Jacksonville; and six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Marilyn grew up in Kankakee, Illinois, with her mother and father, Herbert and Bertha Grulich Potts; and her sister Carol Zeedyk, who survives with her husband Miles in Naples, Florida. She graduated from Kankakee High School and attended Purdue University.
Marilyn met the love of her life, Paul Blanchette, on a blind date set up by a mutual friend, who then served as best man at their February 16, 1958 wedding. They raised three children and remained close to them their entire lives. For Mother’s Day one year Marilyn received a “World’s Greatest Mother” statuette from her children, who can to this day convincingly argue that, unlike others who may have received a similar plastic sculpture, Marilyn truly earned the title.
Marilyn was a tireless worker on the job and equally busy at home, and woe to the unfortunate soul who got in her way when her mind was set on a task. She worked at Amberg File & Index of Kankakee and relocated with her husband and family in 1972 to Jacksonville, where in 1975 Marilyn began a 32-year career with the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Her hard work and dedication touched nearly every area of the community during those decades with the Chamber, and that is how most people in Jacksonville came to know and love her. Marilyn was also very active in Pilot Club and at Salem Lutheran Church, where she was a long-time member and Sunday School teacher.
Sunbathing was Marilyn’s escape from the daily chaos of work, family and commitments, and her spouse and children were always under strict orders not to interrupt these brief bits of bliss.
For many years Marilyn and Paul enjoyed winter vacations at their condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and made many close friends there.
