After just more than 25 years of serving hundreds of Catholic parishioners in Maine, the Rev. Brian Blanchette, 60, has answered his last call to service Sept. 25, 2010. In the end, his large heart was unable to sustain him.

He passed away on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

He served the diocese of Portland at St. Mary Parish, Presque Isle; Immaculate Conception Parish, Calais; St. Francis Xavier Parish, Winthrop; St. Michael Parish, Augusta; and cluster 23 serving primarily at St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mission, Fryeburg. He also served as chaplain at St. Joseph’s College, Windham. He dearly treasured every one of the parishioners he felt privileged to serve.

After obtaining his degree from South West Missouri State College in 1972, he returned home to Houlton and spent 10 years as the teaching principal of the Monticello grade school. During this time he earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Maine. At age 33, he decided to study for the priesthood and was ordained on May 12, 1985. We know how much he loved God, his family, parishioners and his dog, Frances. But when he was not occupied with one of these things, his true passion was for cars. He had a few.

He was predeceased by his parents, Onezime and Ernestine (Rossignol) Blanchette; and his brothers, Gary, Roger and Donald.

He is survived by three brothers and one sister: brother, Robert and his wife, Mary, of Houlton and their children; Deborah and her husband, Ted Ropple, of Casco, great-nephews, Edward and Benjamin; and Peter and Tammy Blanchette of Houlton, and twin great-nephews, Andrew and Christopher; brother, David of Westbrook and niece, Tabatha; brother, Richard and his wife, Terry, of Saco, and their children, Roger of Nashua, N.H., and Amanda of Brewer; and sister, Ann Marie and her husband, John Prendergast of Litchfield, N.H., and their children, Matthew of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Catherine, Megan and Joseph of Litchfield, N.H. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

Reception of the body will be held 5 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Church in Houlton where visiting hours will begin after, until 8 p.m. Visiting hours will also be held 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Church. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at St. Mary’s Church, Houlton, officiated by Bishop Richard Malone. A reception will be held after the service.

Donations may be made to Good Shepherd Food-Bank, P.O. Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211-1807 or online at www.gsfb.com
Arrangement by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton. For an online register go to www.bangordailynews.com