Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 19, 2016
Born: February 23, 1922
Died: May 17, 2016
Married: No
Children: No
Blanche A. Santimaw was a nurse at Saranac Lake General Hospital. Born and raised in Massena, NY, she worked in the Mica Plant there and at the Rome State School as a hospital attendant. She worked to put herself through practical nursing school at Caledonian Hospital in Brooklyn, from 1946 until graduating in 1949. She worked at Saranac Lake General Hospital as a qualified nurse in operating room, floor duty and as executive director of environmental services, retiring after 34 years of service in 1984.
Miss Santimaw, a longtime Saranac Lake resident, was an avid nature lover with great appreciation of the beauty of the Adirondacks. She had a special place in her heart for the loons and cardinals of the area. She was known for her love of painting, painting many scenes throughout the region, noted by the simple signature of BAS in the bottom corner of her work.
Her friends and family will be the first to tell you of her "smoothies".
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 19, 2016
Blanche A. Santimaw
Blanche A. Santimaw, 94 of Church St., Brasher passed away early Tuesday morning, May 17, 2016.
Born on Feb. 23, 1922, in the town of Massena on a farm near Rooseveltown, formally called Nyando, she was the daughter of the late John and Orma (White) Santimaw. She attended Massena schools, worked in the Mica Plant in Massena and Rome State School as a hospital attendant. In 1946 she went to practical nursing school at Caledonian Hospital in Brooklyn, the first qualified practical nursing school in the area, graduating in 1949. She was employed at the Saranac Lake General Hospital as a qualified nurse in operating room, floor duty, and executive director of environmental services, retiring after 34 years of service on Feb. 28, 1984. She had to fend for herself ever since she left home. Her life was a true testament of being self-sufficient, even to the point of planning her own funeral and obituary. Those who knew her work ethic knew there was only one way of doing a job, "Blanche's way." She worked hard and was able to put herself through nursing school. She was always the first one to offer a helping hand to anyone. She lived a full life, and her last days were made more pleasant by the constant attention of her two guardian angels, Betty and Bev. She loved the mountains and spent most of her adult life in Saranac Lake area where she enjoyed mountain climbing, needle and craft, oil painting, golfing, archery, and her pets.
She is survived by her nephew Richard Ratowski, nieces Joanne (Ford) Keppeler, Judith (Santimaw) Williams, several great- and great-great nephews and nieces and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Vincent, sisters Palmyra, Winifred and Norma.
Family and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Phillips Memorial Home in Massena. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21 at St. Mary's Church with the Rev. Jerry Giroux officiating. Internment will be held in Calvary Cemetery.
