Rita St. Martin Blanchard, 80, of Beaumont died February 3, 2008 at her residence. A native of New Iberia, Louisiana, Rita previously lived in the Lafayette and Opelousas area, and had been a resident of Beaumont since 1997. She had been the coordinator of the Council on Aging in Lafayette.
Survivors include her sons, Michael Joseph Marino of Manhattan, New York and Vincent Alfred Marino of Brooklyn, New York; stepdaughter, Ruby Rae Dupre and her husband Mayo of New Iberia; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; five step grandchildren; seven step great grandchildren; one step great great grandchild; brothers, Alton St. Martin of Beaumont and Edward James St. Martin of New Iberia, Louisiana; nieces, Betty M. St. Martin of Beaumont and Sandra McLaughlin of Orange; and other nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Raynold George Blanchard, preceded Rita in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Graveside services will be 4:00 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Washington, Louisiana. A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday evening, February 6, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P O Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
