Blanche Digiacomo Maher

Blanche DiGiacomo Maher was born November 25, 1922 in Lauria, Superior, Province of Potenza, Italy to Concettina Iadone and Vincenzo DiGennaro. Blanche immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 8 months old in 1923. 10 days after their arrival, her father passed away suddenly from an aneurysm and the family was left alone. Not being able to speak English, Concettina found work sewing coats to support herself and her family.

Determined to get a good education, Blanche worked hard in school and put herself through additional schooling to learn shorthand, typing and other secretarial skills. She excelled in her studies. After graduating and getting her first secretarial job, she met and married Alfred DiGiacomo and they had three children, Denyce, Connie and Alfred Jr. The family lived in Belleville, New Jersey then moved to West Orange, New Jersey, and finally to Livingston. Blanche loved spending time with all of her family. She loved her sisters, Erma, Betty, Lilly, Nancy, Lucy and her brother Johnny. She had a brother August who lived in South America and a sister Antionette who was in Italy.

Blanche loved the beach, even though she didn't like to swim. The family spent many fun filled summers at Seaside Heights, enjoying the beach and the amusement park there. Blanche also loved the big city and landed a job as an Executive Secretary for Equitable Life Insurance in New York City, where she worked for 25 years.

Blanche was quite the lady and taught all of her children how to set a proper table, clean efficiently, and have good manners. She was adventurous and loved life! Whenever someone would visit, she would have amazing food and an adventure planned. At times, she would be the most adventurous of everyone, riding the roller coasters while her children held her purse because the ride was too adventurous for them! She was especially blessed to be able to visit her oldest sister Antionette in Italy on one of her adventures!

After Alfred's passing, Blanche married Edward Maher, a Police officer from Harrison, New Jersey. They loved to travel and visited places all across the country. Blanche and Edward moved from New Jersey to Ohio, and then to Snelleville, Georgia. They loved the warm weather and long summers there.

In their later years, they moved to Pocatello, Idaho to be closer to family. Blanche enjoyed living in Pocatello, even though she said she hated it because of the cold winters. She loved spending time with her family, going to the local restaurants like Elmer's, where she said she got the best pancakes; Uncle Jim's Buffet, or Fuji where she loved the entertaining cooks. She loved shopping at Fashion 15 and getting a pedicure from her granddaughter at a local salon. She made many friends, and loved spending time with them, hearing about their adventures and telling them of hers.

Blanche passed away surrounded by family on November 11, 2020 just two weeks before her 98 birthday. She will be greatly missed!

Prior to her passing she was blessed to be lovingly cared for by her family and the amazing staff at the Gables in Pocatello and the Meadows in Salmon, Idaho. We are grateful for their loving care and kindness.

She is survived by Denyce Bigley (Joseph) of Salmon, Idaho, and Connie Utter of Brunswick, Ohio. 7 Grandchildren- Gina Lee (Kevin), Anthony Barbato (Lucy), Maria Bigley, of Pocatello, Idaho, Julianne Logefeil (Shawn) of Crescent City, California, Vince Barbato (Sarah), Michael Bigley (Bailee) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Mark Bigley (Cassidy) of Lehi, Utah and 13 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred DiGiacomo Sr., son, Alfred DiGiacomo Jr. and husband Edward Maher.

A private funeral mass was held in her honor and she was interred in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Montclair, New Jersey.

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