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Blanche Thorburn
September 27, 1930 - March 16, 2017
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<div itemprop="description">Blanche Gordon Thorburn (nee BLACK) <br>It is with a heavy heart that our family announces the passing of Blanche Gordon Thorburn (86) affectionately known as Mum or Nan, she passed away in the wee hours of 16 March 2017, at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in Amherst where she had fought valiantly to return home after a fall that had brought her to hospital in December 2016. <br> <br>Blanche was the second of nine children born 27 September 1930, in Roslin, Nova Scotia, to Ira and Ruth Black (McLeod); she is survived by brothers Malcolm, Donald, Lloyd, Winston, Ronald, and sister Frances. She was also the honorary daughter of Doug and Phyllis McLeod, and was raised with their children Joan, Wayne, Sandy and Carolyn. <br> <br>Blanche moved to Moncton in the 1950’s, and next thing you know she was married to William Arthur James Thorburn, who was loving known as Toby. Maxine, Brian and Terry were the product of their relationship. Tragically Toby died while serving in Oromocto in 1968, leaving Blanche a widow and single mother to her three young children. Blanche returned to Amherst where she worked as a legal secretary for the late Mr. G. H. McNeil (Barrister) for 30 years. Blanche’s hobbies included sewing, quilting and above all giving everything she could, and then some to help and support her children and grandchildren. She had an open heart, open home, and always had room for more in her house, insisting that you “take off your coat and sit down, you’re staying for supper.” <br> <br>Blanche is survived by her three children, Maxine Thorburn of Amherst, Brian (Lorna) Thorburn of Amherst Shore, and Terry (Jean) Thorburn of Greely. Blanche also claimed an honorary daughter Rhonda Carol Burke (Reid) of Ottawa. Blanche’s abundance of generosity, selflessness was demonstrated daily by her love and devotion to her grandchildren, Jason, Blaise (Kat), Kendall (Geoff), Paula, Ryan (Crystal), Samantha (Joel) Mitchell and Sydney and great granddaughters Makaelah and Madeline, and soon to arrive a great grandson. <br> <br>For those of us who have known and where welcomed into the heart, of Blanche (Mum/Nan) she was kind, sweet and generous, above all a force to be reckoned with to her last day. <br> <br>She was preceded in death by her husband Toby, her parents Ira and Ruth Black, honorary parents Doug and Phyllis McLeod, Sister Irene, and her brother Carmen and his wife Bonnie Black, Wayne McLeod, brothers in law Harold Burke, Tommy Seaman and Fred Taylor and nephew Hal Burke. <br> <br>Celebration of life will be held at Campbell’s Funeral home Amherst on Saturday 18 March 2017 from 1- 4. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the (LA Animal shelter Amherst) or the Heart and Stroke foundation <br> <br>Condolences and sharing of memories may be made to the family via: www.campbellsamherst.ca or by visiting the Funeral Home Facebook page. <br> <br></div>