Blanche Evelyn Drown

Blanche Evelyn Drown, 84, passed away peacefully at her Arundel home on Dec. 27, 2011.

She was born in Berlin, N.H., to Nelson and Marianne (LaBelle) Rivard. She attended parochial school and was one of 12 children.

She married her soulmate, Francis W. Drown, on Oct. 19, 1946, and enjoyed 46 wonderful years of marriage until his death in 1992. Blanche and Frank loved to host all their family and friends with numerous dinner and music parties.

Blanche was active in her community as a three-time past president and 64-year member of the Kennebunkport American Legion Auxiliary. 

She donated her time at the Lower Village Senior Center and made some wonderful friends there.

She was a member of the Masonic Widows Organization. She was a homemaker for many years.

Besides her husband Frank, she was predeceased a son, James, who passed away in 2002; by eight sisters, Flora LaBreque, Florence Driggers, Pauline Huot, Simone Hunkins, Priscilla Zylkuski, Georgette Ciapinski, Theresa Porro; and one brother, Norman Rivard.

She is survived by a daughter, Judith Ann Martel and her husband Johnnie; daughter-in-law, Pamela B. Drown; grandchildren Ty Drown and his wife Laura, Casey Drown and his wife Adrianna, Jennifer Martel Pettit and her husband Gerald and James Timothy Martel and his wife Renee; great-granddaughters Jane Pettit and Lyla Drown; sisters Yvonne McKenzie and Clair Bakinoski; brother Paul Rivard and many nieces and nephews.

There were no visiting hours.  A funeral service was held Jan. 3 at the First Congregational Church, North Street, Kennebunkport, followed by interment at Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport.

Should friends desire, donations can be made in Blanche’s memory to the American Legion Building Fund, PO Box 251, Kennebunkport, ME 04046.

Arrangements were by Bibber Memorial Chapel.