We Live in Hearts We Leave Behind~Thomas Campbell

A funeral will be held Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 for 88-year-old Ilene Blanford of Ste. Genevieve, who died Sunday, December 16th at Riverview at the Park Care and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born August 1st, 1919 in Kaskaskia, Illinois, the daughter of Floyd Abell Sr. and Pearl Cassoutt Abell, who both preceded her in death.

She married Vincent P. Blanford on June 27th, 1938 in Ste. Genevieve. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by two sons and daughters in law, John "Jack" Shirley Blanford of Moscow Mills and Richard "Rick" and Merlita Blanford of Troy; three daughters and two sons in law, Betty and Bill Dette of St. Peters, Rebecca and Jimmy Boyd of Coffman and Barbara Sleet of Winfield; two brothers and sisters in law, Warren and Genevieve Abell of Festus and Jim and Karen Abell of Las Vegas, Nevada; two sisters and a brother in law, Leoza Crow of Bono, Arkansas and Zelda and Glen Boland of Thornfield; 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.

A brother, Floyd Abell Jr., a grandchild and a great grandchild, also preceded her in death.

She was a member of the Pujol Baptist Church on Kaskaskia Island and later the Trinity Baptist Church in St. Mary. She graduated from Sparta High School in 1937.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 18th at the Basler Funeral Home in Ste. Genevieve.

A funeral for 88-year-old Ilene Blanford of Ste. Genevieve will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 19th at the Trinity Baptist Church in St. Mary. The Rev. Irvin Brooks will officiate.

Burial will be in the Crestlawn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to HospiceCare, Inc. or to Trinity Baptist Church.