Mary Blandin

After living a long and well-lived life, Mary Carole Blandin was welcomed home to heaven on June 20, 2022. While we are all saddened to lose this vivacious spirit, full of life and love, we are grateful that she is at rest. Mary was 90 years young.

Mary was born in Detroit on March 20, 1932, daughter to Grace (Clark) and Arthur Whitelock.
She moved to the Traverse City area in 1945, where she remained for the rest of her life. In 1955 Mary and Jerry Oleson were married at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City. The couple welcomed three girls, Martha, Lisa and Paula. Even though Jerry and Mary went their separate ways in 1973, they remained friends until Mary's passing.

Saying Mary was active would be an understatement. She was always on the go; skiing, hiking, traveling, you name it! Throughout her lifetime she ventured out west and to Europe on ski trips with her girlfriends.
She was an excellent seamstress, affectionately known around town as "Mary O." She specialized in leather-work, skiwear or really anything you could ever want or need. "Have pins, will travel." Most of Traverse City was left in a lurch when she "hung up her pins" after fifty years. Not willing to really ever give up the craft, she still took on the occasional project or something special for family until recently.
Her daughters reflected upon their mom as frugal, kind of strict sometimes, but really liked to play. She taught the girls how to water ski while at the helm of the old family Chris Craft on Long Lake. It is safe to say that Mary was independent and self-reliant, but she was glad to have met the one and only Victor "Vic" Blandin. The couple married in New Orleans on October 9, 1986. Mary and Vic enjoyed each other's company and had a wonderful time together until his passing in 2011.

While Mary was fiercely independent, she always maintained an ever-abiding faith. Mary was deeply devoted to God and was an involved member of Grace Episcopal Church for many years. Her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were of paramount importance to her. All of us can say with confidence that Mary as a mom, grandma, wife and friend left an impression on all of our hearts in a unique and special way; never to be forgotten, always to be cherished.

Mary leaves behind daughters Martha (David Lytle) Oleson, Lisa Oleson-Johnson and Paula (Greg Klang) Oleson; grandchildren Amber (Ryan) McKenney, Victoria (Scott) Baldwin, Meghan (Lucy Thomas) Watts, Benjamin (Courtney) Watts and Haley (Walker) Chell-Schmidt; 11 great-grandchildren; step-children Mark Blandin and Pam (Tom) Proctor; brother W. Paul (Judy) Whitelock; first husband Gerald Oleson and many extended family members and friends.

Mary joins in eternity, her parents; husband Victor "Vic" Blandin and her son-in-law Buckley Johnson, who was ready and waiting to take her out on the boat to tour the heavens.

Join in celebrating Mary's life at Grace Episcopal Church of Traverse City, Wednesday, July 13, at noon, visitation one hour prior. A reception will follow at the Traverse City Elk's Club. Mary would be honored to have everyone wear their most colorful summer attire!

A special thank you to the Bay Ridge staff who treated our mother as their own and to Hospice of Michigan, Comfort Keepers and again the Bay Ridge staff for taking care of Mary in her final days.

In lieu of flowers please consider making contributions to Mt. Holiday, the NMC Nurses Scholarship Program, Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) or Grace Episcopal Church.

Memories and condolences may also be shared on Mary's tribute page, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com