Bruce Raymond BLODGETT

Bruce Blodgett, 72 LANSDOWNE -- Bruce Raymond Blodgett, 72, of Lansdowne but formerly of Lennoxville, Que., died February 10 at Brockville General Hospital, Charles Street site. He was born August 4, 1934 in Lennoxville, Que., on the old family dairy farm belonging to his parents, Allison Blodgett and the former Lillian Clement, and raised there with his brother and two sisters. He quit school at an early age to help his father on the farm. He loved anything mechanical and quickly assumed responsibility for buying and maintaining the farm equipment. He loved the forests, working in the family woodlots cutting logs and pulp wood. He took his combine to farms for miles around, harvesting oats and barley. In addition to running the farm, he also ran an auto body business. His skilful work, which today would be considered artistic, was recognized and appreciated by many in the community. Mr. Blodgett met Sheila M. Rich in spring 1958 and they were married in spring 1959. They worked together to build a life with their six children. With a heavy heart, he left the dairy business in 1992 and ultimately the family farm. The Blodgetts came to Lansdowne to establish a new life. His continued love of farming took him in an alternate direction - raising beef cattle on his newly acquired property. He sold the beef farm in fall 2005. He and his wife moved into their dream home, a new house located just outside the town of Lansdowne, in December 2005, and he lived there in the tranquility of retirement the past 14 months. He was a family man above all else and in later years enjoyed his grandchildren immensely. Mr. Blodgett is survived by his wife Sheila Blodgett of Lansdowne and six children: Susan Marceau and husband Paul of Pointe Claire, Que.; Judy Lavallee and husband Peter of Orleans; Joan Urbisci and husband Fil of Richmond; Allan Blodgett and wife Linda of Irving, Texas; Sally Howard and husband Jonathan of Ashton and Angela Stewart and husband Brett of Kinburn. Also surviving are his sisters Margaret Goodhue and husband Richard of Lennoxville, Que., and Betty Bown and husband Charles of Bury, Que., and brother John Blodgett of Bury, Que.; 12 grandchildren, Philip and Alexandra Marceau, Jonathan, Niana and Jordan Lavallee, Devin and Emily Urbisci, Creigh and Tia Blodgett, Conner and Nathan Howard and Ethan Stewart; several nieces and nephews; and brothers-in-law John Hadley and wife Nancy of Bramalea and Keith Hadley of Magog, Que., and sister-in-law Lorinda Tear and husband Dave of Ayer's Cliff, Que. He was predeceased by his parents. Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Lansdowne, where on February 14 the funeral was held, with Rev. Reg Gilbert officiating. Burial followed at Union Cemetery. Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. # Published in Section c, page 4 in the Thursday, March 15, 2007 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times. # Posted 4:29:50 PM Thursday, March 15, 2007.