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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
DELAPLANTE, Blanch Anne "J'anne" (née Reynolds) - 80 of Dartmouth NS passed away at the New Halifax Infirmary Hospital on August 14th, 2020 following a lengthy battle with cancer and frail health. Blanche Anne was surrounded by the love of all her family and friends in her final days. She is survived by her daughters Tina and Michelle, her son Mike, his wife Helen, grandchildren Mitchell, Melissa, Matthew and Meghan, great grandchildren Lauren and Adrienne and great, great grandson Keeghan; her siblings Wendy (Dave Carty), Bernadette (Bill Crawford), Jim (Jean Reynolds), Jane (Ken Pollard) and Kenneth Charles Jr. She was predeceased by her brother Frank, her former husband, Llewellyn “Del” Delaplante and her beloved Yorkie, Mr. Brown. She leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and their children, her dog Abbigail, honorary son David LaPierre, and honorary grandsons Blair Baxter and Fabian Ellias, all of whom she loved dearly.
Blanche Anne was born on July 25th, 1940 to MB Francis (Gleason) and KC Reynolds of Ottawa, Ontario. Following the war, her family was transferred to Rivers Military Base, Manitoba. It was here that she spent her formative years welcoming and helping to raise her brothers and sisters. Her time in Rivers would prove to be some of her fondest memories throughout her entire life. When her father was released from the military, the family returned to a small hobby farm in Kentville, Ontario, which still remains in the family.
Blanche Anne enlisted to the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service branch of the Royal Canadian Navy on October 16th, 1959. Because of the acronym WRCNS, women in the service were referred to affectionately as “Wrens”. While in the RCN she met and married her husband “Del” and was released from service on April 1st, 1963 to have and raise her children. As her younger siblings became parents; her name was shortened from Blanche Anne to J’anne “because the little ones couldn’t pronounce my name”. For years she was the leader of the 1st Mill Cove Brownie pack and as “Brown Owl” she helped to empower little girls with confidence and imagination. She later assisted with her local Girl Guides troop.
She obtained her ham radio operator license in 2000 and helped to “patch” families together when the ships were at sea. She enjoyed roller skating, playing lob ball, curling and was well known for her intricate crocheted gifts, needlework and her love of handcrafting. She participated in the annual Ride for Sight and also attended the Wharf Rat Motorcycle Rallies with her son and daughter in law and enjoyed her unlikely friendships with some of the roughest and toughest of the motorcycle community. She took an active role in the WRENS Association and enjoyed traveling to numerous conventions and keeping in touch with the ladies that she worked with or had graduated with from Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.
Wearing many hats, J’anne was a housewife and employed in various retail sales positions. She worked as a PCW at Shoreham Village, as a lab technician and finally for Commissioner's Nova Scotia for her last 27 years of employment. Blanche was a reliable and valued part of any team and enjoyed the people she met and the work she did. Her family, with much encouragement, were finally able to convince her to retire from full time work at the tender age of 77.
J’anne was a quiet, unassuming person. She was admired for her enormous heart and nonjudgmental attitude. She was well read, well informed, and she listened when you spoke. She had her own unique perspective to life. When her children were in their teens, she opened her doors, her arms and her heart to kids in distress. From parental indifference, divorce, alcoholism and the threat of violence, J’anne created a safe and welcoming home that had a profound and lifelong impact on the kids that came to call her “mom”. Just a knock on the door and everyone was welcome at the “Do Drop In”. Because of this generous heart and soul, J’anne was accepted and respected by everyone she met.
We would like to thank the staff of 8.3 at the New HI site of NSHA for their generous care and concern for Blanche and her family while in your care. Thank you to her family physician, Dr Nag Sannidhanam, for his humor and direct hands on care over the last several years, Dr Melvin-Oncologist, and Dr Bergeson and Dr Moran-Orthopedics. Thank you to our wonderful community and the people of Nova Scotia for following The COVID19 mandated protocols that allowed us access to assist with Blanche’s care and to be present at her bedside when she passed.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday August 29th at 11:00 a.m. at St Vincent de Paul Church, 320 Flying Cloud Drive, Dartmouth NS. COVID19 restriction limit the total amount of attendees to 50 people. In the rare case that a positive case of COVID19 occurs, contact numbers will be required for potential contact tracing. Family flowers only. Donations may be made to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation or to the Nova Scotia Wrens Association by contacting Joann Cunningham, President of the Wrens Association @ 902-465-2595
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