Fernand J. Blais

Mr. Fernand Blais, 79, of Berlin, NH died peacefully at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin on August 15th in the presence of his beloved wife of 57 years and in the midst of his loving family. He was born in Berlin on May 27, 1928 the son of Albert Blais and Germaine Gagne. Mr. Blais was a lifelong resident of Berlin, NH. He attended St. Charles Boromeo Seminary in Sherbrook, PQ and also Notre Dame High School in Berlin. He was initially employed by Joseph G. Blais and was later co-owner along with his brother Raymond from 1974-1988. He was a member of Guardian Angel Parish, now known as Good Shepherd Parish. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society, and former member of the NH Catholic Charities Board of Directors, Friends of Catholic Schools, Notre Dame Arena, Eagles Club and the Androscoggin Valley Country Club. After his retirement, Mr. Blais enjoyed golfing with his friends, playing cards and traveling with his wife throughout the U.S. and Europe. One of the things he cherished most was spending time with his children and thirteen grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Isabelle (Murphy) Blais; two sons Lucien Blais and his wife Muriel, Daniel Blais and his wife Darlene; two daughters Elise Johnson and husband Michael, and Bernadette Hallgren and her husband Timothy of Berlin, NH; son-in-law Albert Poirier and wife Susan of Plymouth, VT; Thirteen grandchildren: Christopher, Carrie, Melissa, Michael, David, Patrick, Amanda, Jonathan, Kathleen, Ryan, Noah, Benjamin and Jacob; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond Blais and wife Lorraine of Gorham, NH and Richard Blais and his wife Helen of Nashua, NH; one sister, Sr. Jeannine Blais, PM of Manchester, NH; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and by two daughters, Rochelle Blais and Muriel Poirier and one brother, Donald Blais. SERVICES: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday afternoon Aug. 18, 2007 at 1:00 PM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish, 345 Pleasant St., Berlin, NH. Interment will follow at St. Anne Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin, NH on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and on Saturday from 11:00 to 12:15 PM, prior to the church mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Respite Community Center in Berlin or to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital Impressions of Care walkway, in his memory.