Obituary of Louise K. Blankenship

Louise Katherine Smith Blankenship, 94, passed away at Bethany House, Rome NY, after a brief illness. She was born September 13 1930, the only child of Day and Katherine McCarthy Smith. She graduated from Holland Patent High School in 1948. On Feb. 6, 1951 she married Staff Sergeant Lloyd Blankenship from Richlands, Virginia. They met when he was stationed at Griffith's Air Force Base in Rome, NY. She traveled with him when stationed in California and Texas. After he was honorably discharged in 1954, they built a home in Floyd, NY. She was widowed on Aug 13 1986. She remained in her home and was fiercely independent with the help of friends, neighbors and cousins. She moved into an apartment in Rome, NY in 2018 and later to the Terrace at Woodlands, assisted living, before recently moving to Bethany House. She drove until she was 91. She loved to tell stories about her 25 years working as a “detective” clerk at WT Grants. She kept people honest. She was a communicant at St Peter’s Catholic Church Rome, NY all of her life. Faith, family and friends were important to her. She was very devout and always praying for someone. One of her sayings was “I’m Louise, once you have met me, you’ll never forget me”.

She is survived by her first cousin John Stone who was like a big brother always there when she needed him and several second cousins.

We’d like to thank Margaret Bovi and Michele Granacki for their love and friendship to Louise over the years and especially during her final days. And to her second cousin Linda Matwijec and husband Tom for their help over the last several years.

Thank you for the help and loving care of those she met at Georgian Arms Apt. and the staff at The Terrace at Woodlands and Bethany House. You all meant a lot to Louise and her family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18th at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Family and friends are invited to call at the church prior to Mass 10:30-11:00 a.m.Interment will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery.