Isabell Blanchard

Isabell N. (Ingalls) Blanchard died peacefully at home with her family around her on March 4, 2022, aged 87. Her path with Lewy Body Dementia brought lots of changes to her life in the last few years including the opportunity to be closer to her children.

Born July 10, 1934 to Mabel (Dyer) and Carl Ingalls in Newport, NH. Her childhood in Bradford, NH was spent on the Ingalls family farm with her grandmother Hattie (Shattuck) Ingalls. She enjoyed a rural life with seven younger siblings nearby. After graduation from Simonds School in Warner in 1953 she married Sidney Blanchard and settled in Hillsborough, NH and raised her family of five children.

Isabell was active in the Hillsborough United Methodist Church where she served at various times as Superintendent of Sunday School, organized Vocational Bible School, led Pastoral Relations, was a representative for Hillsborough UMC at general conference, worked the church suppers with her fabulous friends, sang in the Choir, produced the church bulletins and created the brick walkway to a sitting bench with her son, Seth.

Her work life included raising her children, bookkeeping for local businesses, and working at the Bank of New Hampshire in Hillsborough, where she became the loan officer. She was thrilled to move to the office upstairs! Isabell loved interacting with her colleagues and the community members she served.

A citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, she enjoyed many activities such as cooking at Abenaki events, helping with Wijokadoak Abenaki basket/language camps and assisting with pressing cider for the Abenaki Food Shelf. She was a proud member of the Abenaki Artist Association for her work in learning basket making in the traditions of her Abenaki Dyer ancestors.

After retirement Isabell enjoyed the “best years of her life” as she would say. She bought an RV (in her 70s!) and took to the highways with her siblings-- to the horror of fellow motorists and especially truckers. The stories of her adventures entertained all who knew her, especially her family. She subsequently made her home in Supply, NC where several of her siblings had relocated. Free from the ice and cold of the north, she enjoyed her home near Holden Beach immensely. She especially loved entertaining family and friends and attending “music” - local bluegrass sessions.

Isabell was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Carl; and her sister, Helen. She is survived by her four brothers, Walter, Ralph, Wallace, and Harold, as well as her sister, Delia Morrill. Isabell is also survived by her five children, Sherry Gould, Brian, Rebecca, Anita and Seth; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. They all celebrate her memory and her many funny tales of a life well-lived.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her Committal Service will be held at Sunny Plain Cemetery, Old Warner Rd., Bradford, NH on May 7 at 10AM with a Celebration of her Life following at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church at 11:30, light refreshments to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, Abenaki Trails Project (Hopkinton Historical Society, fiscal agent) or the Granite Visiting Nurses Association.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester. To view Isabell's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.