Marie Blanchard Gahagan

“May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest” - William Shakespeare A Mass of Resurrection and Rite of Christian burial for Marie Blanchard Gahagan will be at 11 am Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Natchitoches with Rev. Craig Scott serving as celebrant and Rev. Blake Deshautelle serving as concelebrant. Interment will follow at Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches. Friends are invited to attend a wake service on Monday, October 17, 2016 from 5 pm until 7 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 6:30 pm on the 17th in the funeral home chapel. Marie passed away Friday, October 14, 2016 with her family by her side. She was born November 19, 1940 and was a life-long resident of Natchitoches. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carey H. Blanchard, Jr. and Myrtle Prud’homme Blanchard; sister, Pat Sliman; niece Barbara Fontan; brother in law, Pete Sliman,Jr.; and sister-in-law, Patsy Blanchard. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tara Gahagan, Allyson Corder and husband Stuart, Russell E. Gahagan, III and his wife Claire; sister, Myrtle Powell and husband Lynwood; and brother, Carey H. Blanchard, III and wife Linda. She was blessed with ten grandchildren, Darrell Rivers, Jr., Ashley Weber and husband Lee, Thomas Rivers, John Paul Rivers, Andrew Corder, Catherine Corder, Elizabeth Corder, Sidney Gahagan, Anne Marie Gahagan and Russell Edward Gahagan; and great grandchildren, Robert Weber, Lee Paul Weber, Wyatt Weber, and Susannah Weber; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Last but not least my love and faithful companion, Poughkeepsie Ace Blanchard, known to everyone as Keepsie. Her grandsons are honored to serve as pallbearers. “We will grieve not; but rather find strength in what remains behind” - William Wordsworth