Obituary of Blanche C. Gray

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY.

Blanche C. Gray (née Townsend), 89 years, of W. Berlin NJ, passed away on January 23, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Robert N. Gray for 61 years and loving companion of the late Robert P. Voorhees for 3 years. Loving mother of Karen (Albert) Crittenden, Paula (Daniel) Michalak, Edith (Stanley) Misiak and Laura (Al) Afflerbach. Cherished grandmother of Melissa (David) Fanelli, Holly (Paul) Gibbs, Seth (Nicole) Crittenden, Tara (Frank) Arico, Daniel (Angeline) Michalak, John (Taylor) Michalak, Andrea (Zack) Strickland, Suzanne (Alex) Hayman, Gregory Misiak, Sarah (Daniel) MacDonald, Erica (Ryan) Burke, Keith (Erin) Rossell, Joshua (Sarah Pritchard) Rossell, Alex Afflerbach, Samuel Afflerbach and Brickus Afflerbach and great grandmother of Lauren (Anthony) McAlister, Decklan Gibbs, Mae Gibbs, Mabel Crittenden, Octavia Crittenden, Frank Arico, Jonah Michalak, Avery Michalak, Nora Michalak, Zeke Strickland, Matthew Strickland, Eli Strickland, Mark Strickland, H. Rose Hayman, Zachary MacDonald, Brennan Rossell, Benjamin Rossell and great great grandmother of Anthony and Brooke McAlister. Dear sister of the late Walter Seth Townsend (the late Harriet) and sister-in-law of Dolly Sirolli.

Blanche graduated from Lower Camden County Regional High School class of 1950 and was involved in planning many of the class reunions. She was an avid genealogist and authored several family tree books.

She was involved in many activities during her life which included bowling, going to the gym, tennis and golf. Later in life she attended Clementon Senior Citizen Club, where she played pinochle.

She jumped at any opportunity to travel domestically and abroad and loved seeing new sites and visiting family and friends. Blanche and her husband Bob enjoyed square dancing and round dancing, traveling to multiple square dance conventions where they collected several trophies. She attended East Berlin Community Church starting at the age of 3. Blanche enjoyed climbing trees even into her 80’s.

Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and she always made that special. Everyone looked forward to her famous Christmas pinwheels. In her spare time, she also enjoyed doing puzzles, working in her flower gardens, reading and running her model trains.

Blanche survived breast cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma. She was a valiant fighter and was a role model to all those that knew her. Her third and final bout with cancer was incurable but that did not take away her spunk.

Most of all Blanche cherished spending time with her family (4 daughters and their spouses, 16 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren!).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Tuesday February 1, 2022 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM at the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, 231 W. WHITE HORSE PIKE, BERLIN NJ 08009. Funeral service 11:00AM at the funeral home. Interment in Berlin Cemetery, Berlin NJ. There will be a live stream of the funeral service starting at 10:50AM, please follow this link to join.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Samaritan Hospice, PO Box 71425, Philadelphia PA 19146 or East Berlin Community Church, PO Box 491 Berlin, New Jersey 08009 would be appreciated. To leave lasting condolences or photos, please use the links on this page.