FIANDER, Blanche -86, Head of St. Margaret's Bay, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 15, 2009, passing away peacefully at home. Born in English Harbour West, N.L., she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Sarah Jane (Yarn) Fiander. She grew up living her life in the beautiful coastal village of English Harbour West, N.L., where she met and fell in love with the man she was married to for 59 years, Mack Fiander. They started their lives in that small fishing village and considered it home until the day they died. The mother of ten children and the wife of a sea captain, she lived a life of independence, fortitude and tenacity. Blanche lived her life as a woman during very difficult times. Blanche dedicated her life to the care of her husband and children. She left school in grade three to work drying fish from the fishing schooners that sailed from her hometown. She left Newfoundland with her husband and children when she was 28 years old. She lived in Black Point for many years, finally settling in Head of St. Margaret's Bay, where she lived for the past 46 years. She loved to make bread and for many years there was a white sign with black lettering in front of her house in Head of St. Margaret's Bay stating "Homemade Bread For Sale". She was an amazing cook, an immaculate housekeeper, and took great pride in her home. She was blessed with the opportunity to serve so many local families as their housekeeper and treated their homes with the same loving care that she treated her own. She had a chance to put her bread making skills to good use when she had a brief stint making rolls at Snair's Bakery. Blanche loved to laugh. You could find her sitting in her rocking chair, facing the front door so she could see her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the many friends who would come through the door to visit her. Blanche loved Newfoundland music and loved to shop especially for rugs and mugs! Surviving are her children Hubert (Julianne), Bedford; Bill (Helen), Simms Settlement; Mack (Marjorie), Boutilier's Point; Fred (Elaine), Hinton, Alta.; Grace Fizzard (Cyril), Boutilier's Point; Lauranne Fiander (Mike Witt), Terra Cotta, Ont.; Ron (Debbie), Regina, Sask.; Pearl Fiander (Barry Tanner), Head of St. Margaret's Bay; Julianne Chaisson (Mike), Oakfield; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her only sister, Marjorie Baker, Grand Bank, N.L. She was predeceased by her husband, Mack; daughter, Grace; grandsons, Monty Fiander and Richie Benson; brothers, John Henry, Samuel James, Norman; and sisters, Mary Anne and Rita. Special thank you to her wonderful friend Esther Snair, who lovingly cared for Mom many times over her lifetime and especially in these last difficult days. Also special thanks to the many VON nurses who cared for her, Angie Conrad, her LPN, the palliative care doctors and nurses, as well as the pharmacy staff at the Shoppers Drug Mart. Thank you to all the friends and family who called and dropped by to visit her, and to those who held her in their prayers. Visitation Tuesday, March 17 from 2-4, 7-9 p.m. in Ronald A. Walker Funeral Home, Tantallon. Funeral Wednesday, March 18 2 p.m., in St. George's Anglican Church, St. Margaret's Bay, Rev. Mark Marshall officiating. Burial in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in memory of Richie Benson. On-line condolences can be made at: www.rawalker.ca