Blanche Cecilia Juge

Blanche Cecilia Juge, a woman with a big heart, who loved to laugh, and enjoyed all things sweet, died on November 25, 2024, in Roseville, CA, surrounded by her family. She was 83.

A friend to all, Blanche was the wife of James Juge for 54 years prior to his death in 2016, the mother of daughters Jeanine Billingham and Claudine Osipow, and the one and only Grandma Blanche to her four grandchildren, Caitlin, Cameron, Benjamin and Megan, and Great Grandma Blanche to baby Nora. Blanche loved her family deeply and enjoyed spending every possible minute in their presence. Her family was her pride and joy, especially her daughters. Both leaned on her loving ways, her graciousness, charm and thoughtfulness. She and Jim raised their girls in a loving home in Gardena, parenting with openness, wisdom, and respect, while allowing the girls the necessary independence to become young women. Both daughters have said numerous times – ‘I hit the jackpot with my parents’.

The youngest child of Georgette Henriette (Stamp) Kelly and Bernard Joseph Kelly, Blanche was born November 12, 1941, in Los Angeles. She attended St. Anselm’s Grammar School and St. Michael’s Girls High School. She was the editor of the school yearbook, played badminton and archery and her favorite subject was English. Blanche met Jim on a blind date in 1957 and they eventually married on October 27, 1962. Blanche worked for 25 years as a court reporter for the State of California, initially for the Unemployment Appeals Board and then for the Workers Compensation Appeals Board. Always committed to family, Blanche devoted much of her spare time to taking care of her mother and other family members. 

To be closer to their daughters in Northern California, Blanche and Jim moved to Sun City Lincoln Hills in 1999. Always up for an adventure, they traveled the world, cruising to the Mediterranean, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and the Amazon, and visited Switzerland, Hong Kong and China. Over the last several years, Blanche’s favorite trips involved extended stays with her daughters and grandchildren. 

Blanche volunteered at the Lincoln Police Department, the Emergency Department at Sutter Roseville Hospital, and at the local library teaching young children. She had a natural ability to connect with people – making all feel welcome, appreciated, and worthy. She was fond of reading and crocheting. She adored watching her grandchildren grow and was deeply involved in their lives, offering wisdom on their careers and relationships. She was the ‘hippest’ Grandma – always stylish, with her short spiky hair and yellow VW Bug. Spoiling her grandkids was her top priority. If anyone in the family has a sweet tooth…it’s because of her. Blanche lived the past 10 years at Oakmont of Roseville Assisted Living and was lovingly cared for by its dedicated staff.

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard (1956) and Georgette (1996). She’s survived by her brother Patrick Kelly, daughters Jeanine and Claudine, son-in-laws Graham and Daniel (respectively), grandchildren Caitlin (Kevin), Cameron (Alyssa), Benjamin (Katelyn), Megan (Joshua), and great granddaughter Nora.

Blanche’s passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of so many. However, the family finds comfort knowing she lived a full life, surrounded by love and affection, and is now reunited with Jim and other loved ones. 

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA on December 20, 2024 at 9:30 am. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org and American Parkinson Disease Association, www.apdaparkinson.org.