Blanche Jane Gagliardo, 88, of Ottawa, died on Saturday morning, August 20, 2016 at her home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the Mueller Funeral Home with the Rev. Grace Oh, pastor of Evangelical United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Full Military Rites will be accorded. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of services. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Blanche was born on April 14, 1928 in Dewar, Oklahoma, to Antonio and Cleo (Hendricks) Gagliardo. She served in the United States Navy and received her Master’s Degree in Archaeology from Northern Illinois University. She started Taekwondo at the age of 60 and received her brown belt. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, pottery, gem and mineral collecting.
Blanche is survived by her sister, Leona Lampe, of Australia, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Antonio, Joseph, John and her twin brother Alfred, and 3 sisters, Florence, Rachel “Penny”, and Mary Frances.
Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.
Pallbearers will be Carl Wruck, Dale Wruck, Rick Sroka, and Henry Wykoff.
Blanche has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.