Helena Bergmann Blake

If you were lucky enough to meet Betty Blake, you would surely have been warmed by her smile, always accented by her trademark sunset-pink lipstick. She was a woman who had a sincere heart for people and a life affixed on the pillars of her love for God and family.

Betty was a true Washingtonian. Born on April 11, 1928, she graduated with the class of 1946 from Calvin Coolidge High School and attended American University, where she influenced the lives of other young women as the President of the AXO Sorority.

She was so proud of her father, George Pearson, who was the President of the family business, Bergmann’s Cleaning and Laundry of the Washington D.C. area that recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary in July 2017. Betty relished spending time surrounded with family at Bergmannville, our family compound on the Rhode River off the Chesapeake Bay.

Betty converted to Catholicism when she was 20 years old and her faith was an unwavering force in her life. She married the love of her life, Andrew B. “Buddy” Blake, on May 6, 1950 and lived in Kensington, Maryland where they raised six children. They were instrumental in the groundbreaking of the Holy Cross parish and were very active in their church community.

Betty was an expert at crocheting who devotedly made hundreds of afghans for family members and friends including crocheting hats for the men and women serving our military. Betty and Bud were avid ballroom and round dancers who found a way to graciously dance meaningfully through life.

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her six children: George Blake (Mary Beth), Christine Messick (Lenny), Mary Therese Smole (Bart), Kathleen Blake, Susan Attridge (Dick) and Diane Carpenter (Keith). Betty was affectionally known as “Gama” to her 16 grandchildren: Lisa Derr (Chris), Kimberly Sims (Jeremy), Corene Brown (Steve), Eileen Ruane (Mark), Bobby Messick (Nicki), Brian Smole, Kevin Smole (Barbi), Elizabeth Smole, Michelle Skinner, June O’Donovan (Greg), Zachary Skinner (Natalie), Christopher Attridge (Kathryn), Sean Attridge, Jacqueline Deem (Chad), Courtney Cunningham (Brian) and Blake Carpenter as well as her 21 great grandchildren: Lilly Ann and Russel Sims, Julian Glaeser, Braydon and Colton Ruane, Drew, Ella and Connor Messick, Samantha, Sean, and Sydney Smole, Vincent Sandridge, Kylie, Madilyn, Shane and Kiersten O’Donovan, Nathan Skinner, Kailyn and Owen Attridge, Zachary Attridge and Hunter Deem.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 51 years, Andrew B. Blake and her brother Richard W. Bergmann.

The family of Betty Blake would like to thank the loving community of BayWoods of Annapolis as well as Wonderful Home Health Care with their loving, compassionate caregivers. We would also like to thank the staff of PearTree House for her end-of-life care.

A private, family service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at St. Mary’s Parish, Annapolis, Maryland followed by interment at the Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, DC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:

Saint Mary’s Parish Annapolis

In Memory of Helena E. Blake

109 Duke of Gloucester Street

Annapolis, MD 21401

or online at www.stmarysannapolis.org.