Blanche M.L. Hlavaty

Blanche was born on March 5, 1930, the daughter of the late Michel and Marie-Antoinette (Grangier) Monnard in Attalens, Switzerland. A native French speaker, she grew up on a farm with 7 siblings: Marie, Cecile, Gonzague, Nicolas, Jean-Marie, Michel and Marie-Louise. Two other siblings, Jean-Marie and Rose, passed within months of their birth.

Blanche was working in a tea room when she heard that a Swiss family living abroad was looking for someone to watch their son. She decided to apply, leaving Switzerland in 1955 with her friend Trudy. They traveled to the U.S. by sea. Blanche joined the Swiss family in Stamford, where she lived, took care of their son, and learned English.

Blanche met her future husband Godfrey (Barney) A. Hlavaty within a couple of years of arriving in the U.S., and they wed October 25, 1958. They bought a home in Stamford, and children soon followed. Blanche was a homemaker when the children were small. She later cleaned homes and offices for many years.

Blanche is survived by her children Michelle (Gary) Tomaino, Renée (Ken) Buckley, Joanne (Greg) Sherwood and Jeffrey Hlavaty. Also surviving are her grandchildren Luke (fiancée Anastasia) and Lindsey Sherwood, Kyle and Christopher Buckley, Marisa Tomaino, and Jake and Kevin Hlavaty. As Blanche was leaving this earth, her great-granddaughter was arriving: Lillian Sherwood was born the night of April 3, 2026. Surviving Swiss relatives are Jean-Marie and Martine Monnard, Marie-Louise Pasquier, Marie-Claire Monnard, Berthe Monnard, and many nieces and nephews.

Blanche is predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Barney, brothers Gonzague, Nicolas and Michel and sisters/brothers-in-law Marie (Henri) Lottaz, Cecile (Arthur) Favre and Martial Pasquier. She is also predeceased by

her in-laws Joseph (Jane) Hlavaty, Mary (Anthony) Masso, Edward (Barbara) Hlavaty, Helene (John) Coppola, Charles Hlavaty and Emma (Raymond) Soff.

Blanche was a beloved daughter, sister/in-law, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a devout Catholic and member of St. Bridget of Ireland Church in Stamford since its inception.

Blanche was adventurous, kind, nature-loving and all around sweet. She tried to help others wherever she could. She loved to be outdoors, walking or in her garden, pulling “les mauvaises herbes” (weeds) and finding beauty in everyday things. She loved her family, sunsets and cruises. She loved to listen to the Polka Hour and Don Russell on the radio, read the Stamford Advocate and watch the Steve Harvey show on TV. In her later years, Blanche and Barney could frequently be found going for “senior coffee” and walking at Binney Park. Her favorite Mother’s Day celebration was to attend the Dogwood Festival in Fairfield, CT. Her heart was close to her Swiss family, and she visited them as often as she could.

We miss her deeply and will carry her with us always.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 10:00am at St. Bridget Church, 278 Strawberry Hill Ave, Stamford, CT. Burial to follow at St. John Cemetery in Darien, CT.