Blanche M. Dvorak, 82, of Albany joined her Lord and Savior Saturday.

She was born seven miles southeast of Manning, N.D., the daughter of Frank and Anna (Bren) Ficek. She was raised on the farm southeast of Manning and attended schools there prior to moving to Washington and then Oregon in 1957.

Blanche was a very hardworking woman and spent most of her working years at Weyerhaeuser in Jefferson and Oregon Freeze Dry in Albany where she retired in 1994. She was a very active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church helping out with the church bulletins, the soup kitchen, rosary and Mass set up, and taking communion to those who couldn't attend Mass. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and enjoyed her senior center trips with friends.

Blanche was a very loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by sister Mildred Kadrmas of Yakima, Wash.; son Doane and wife Sally Dvorak; daughter Sandy and husband Rich Truett; son Lonnie Dvorak; and daughter Tina and husband Barry Ohling; grandchildren Molly Allison, Devin Dvorak, Casey Jolissaint, Jessie Young, Cody Truett, Dane Dvorak, Sarah Dvorak, Courtney Ohling and Carmen Ohling; great-grandchildren Tristan and Hayden Jolissaint, Jimmy and Summer Ohling, and Marcel and Jahnay Traynor; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Blanche loved and enjoyed her family very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Vince, Tony and Eddie Ficek; sisters Mary Kadrmas, Anna Barta, Emma Kadrmas and Lillian Crothers; and her children's father.

A rosary prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Willamette Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church and sent in care of the funeral home.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).