Loving wife of the late Edward Saaranen; dear mother of Louise (Jim) Bugg; caring grandmother of Laila (Chris) Poisson and Melissa (Craig) Kennedy; and great-grandmother of Corrine and Alex Kennedy and Verity and Andrew Poisson. She is also survived by her sister Helen Brill.
Blanche was born the daughter of Mike and Hilda (Lantto) Pihlaja on April 7, 1915 in Calumet, in the upper peninsula of Michigan. She graduated from Mass High School and married Edward Saaranen on September 28, 1937 in Mass, MI.
As a long time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Redford, Blanche was active in the Sunday school, church camp program, and pasty making. She also celebrated her Finnish heritage, frequently attending monthly lunches at the Finnish Center Association in Farmington Hills.
Blanche was devoted to her family and she enjoyed flower gardening, reading, watching the Detroit Tigers, and playing scrabble. She regularly exchanged letters with friends and family not only in the US but also in Finland and Sweden.
Visitation will be on Monday October 22 at 10 a.m. at Spirit of Grace Church, located at 2399 Figa Ave in West Bloomfield, where Blanche will lie in state until the time of funeral service at 11 a.m.
Contributions may be made in Blanche’s memory to Spirit of Grace Church, 2399 Figa Ave in West Bloomfield Twp., 48324. For information, call 248-682-0770.
