Blanche Alice Gagnon
| Marie Blanche Alice Gagnon | |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Born: | July 7, 1919 Jay, Maine |
| Died: | May 22, 2000 Topsham, Maine |
| Father: | Onesime Gagnon (1892) |
| Mother: | Rosa Yvonne Michaud |
| Spouse: | Walter (Bud) Galuza |
| Married: | Easter, April 5, 1942 |
| Children: | Judith Ann Galuza (adopted) |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Residence: | |
| Profession: | Housemaid and Nanny Shoe shop worker |
Blanche's Childhood
Blanche was born with a big bright personality and a huge, generous heart. She loved to have fun, and playfully teased her younger brothers and sister.
Rita got a job at Stone Record’s place as a cook, where she earned $3 a week. She was very hard-working, and was a good saver. Of all of the kids, she probably had the most money, and was serious about how it would get used for her future. She remembers the time that Bill and Blanche had decided that they wanted to walk 4 miles into town, to the beer hall, and get a beer and dance. They didn’t have enough money, and asked Rita to borrow 10 cents. Rita, who did not approve of such a frivolous way to spend the money she worked so hard to earn, refused. They eventually borrowed the money from Albert, who was much more cavalier
About this time, Blanche was about 15 and had decided to leave home and go to work. Now for many years, she would tell Bobby that it was because he was so ugly as a baby. However, the real reason was probably more because her sister had left and gotten married, there was a new baby in the house, it was the depression, and she wanted to strike out on her own, and relieve the family of the responsibility of having to feed her. It also satisfied her sense of adventure. She moved to Boston, and got a job as a housekeeper and nanny for a Jewish family, and worked there for a while. She left when the husband made a pass at her. With her references, she was able to get another job as a housekeeper and nanny in the Boston area. She was earning good money in those days, and would sometimes take the train home, bringing presents for Norman and Bobby, who were small.
On Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942, Blanche was married to Walter (Bud) Galuza. Six months later, Bud was called to war, and was gone until 1945, when they all came back around the same time at Christmas.
Irene & Al visiting in Maine, Blanche went to work, Blanche left the food for Mom to cook, Bud was a lumberjack, he said where’s the rest of it, as soon as Blanche came home from work, he said make me some supper. Meal for Bud – fried fish, potatoes, vegetable
62Trip to Italy with Rocky & Claudia, saw Pope, lost luggage
