Avis de décès de Robert-E. -Blais Jr - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Robert E. Blais Jr., 79     WESTBROOK-Robert E. Blais Jr., 79, of 600 Cumberland St., died Thanksgiving evening, Nov. 24, 2005, surrounded by his children and grandchildren.      He was born in Portsmouth, N.H., a son of Dr. Robert E. and Annie Haddon Blais. He was raised and educated in Amesbury, Mass.He was a graduate of American International College in Springfield, Mass., and went on to attend Assumption College in Worcester, Mass.      He served in the U.S. Air Force, as a tail gunner in a B-24, stationed in Germany.      After his discharge, he returned to Assumption College, which is where he met his wife Claire Rice, whose dad owned the Rice Funeral Home in Worcester. They were married in September of 1952.      Bob attended the New England Institute of Funeral Service in Boston, where he later served on the board of directors. He started his career in the funeral business for his father-in-law. In 1953, he moved to Westbrook and purchased the Rocheleau Funeral Home, where he established the Blais Funeral Home, which he ran until becoming ill several years ago.     He was very active in local, state and national organizations. He was a member and former president of the Maine Funeral Directors Assn., he was a member and former chairman of the State Board of Funeral Service, he was a license examiner for the State of Maine, he was the chairman of the National Funeral Service Examining Boards, he was a 50+ year member and former president of the Westbrook Kiwanis, a member of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce, a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a private pilot, and Boy Scout Troop 87 leader, instructed scouts with their Aviation Merit Badge, a member of the Bald Eagles Flying Club, an avid and accomplished golfer, was a member of the Portland Country Club for many years and was a former Club Champion.     Bob and his wife Claire had eight children who were very active in local sports, they made it a point to attend every sporting event, sometimes having to drive to two or three different events on the same day. He also enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Florida. He was very adept at learning new languages.      His was predeceased by his wife Claire Rice Blais in April of 2002. He was also predeceased by a sister Anne Terry in 2005.      He is survived by 8 children; five sons Robert E. III, of Westbrook, Roger E. and wife Wanda of Hollis, Marc R. and wife Kim, (with whom he lived with and was cared for, for the last three years), James A. and wife Marcy and John L. and wife Michelle, all of Westbrook; three daughters Denise E. McGuirk of Virginia Beach, Va., Michelle A. and husband Bruce Bolduc of Saco and Lisa M. and husband Ed Manning of Scarborough; 17 grandchildren; a brother Louis Blais; two sisters Marie Messner and Roberta Folsom, all of Amesbury, Mass.     Visiting hours will be held Sunday from 5-8 p.m., at the Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m., in St. Hyacinth Church. Burial will follow in St. Hyacinth Cemetery.         In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to:     V.N.A. Health Care     50 Foden Rd.     South Portland, Maine 04106    Robert E. Blais Jr.