Link to livestream Mass: https://vimeo.com/event/5936930?fl=so&fe=fs

Clare J. (MacLellan) Blankenship (97) of Milton and Popponessett Beach, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. 

 

Born in Boston, MA, on February 1, 1929, Clare was the beloved wife of the late Robert J. Blankenship. She was the cherished daughter of the late Archibald and Mary Ann (Cameron) MacLellan. Clare is survived by her children, Marsha B. Grills of Milton, Elisabeth B. Silva (Jeffrey) of Bethesda, MD, Caleb J. Blankenship (Kathleen) of Lingle, WY, David W. Blankenship (Patricia) and Susan M. Blankenship (Samuel Ross), both of South Portland, ME. She also leaves her brother, Donald C. MacLellan  (Marilyn) of Hingham and her eight grandchildren, Katie Cronin, Elisabeth Grills, Cameron Blankenship, Anastasia Silva, Mary Clare Blankenship, Graham Silva, Grace Blankenship, and Max Ross, as well as four great-grandchildren.  

 

She was predeceased by her grandson, baby Robert Nolan Blankenship, her son-in-law Michael Grills, and her sisters Louise MacLellan, Adele Walsh, and Thérèse Mason. 

 

Clare had a lifelong passion to see the world. After graduating from the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester she took herself off to Kansas City, then Florida, to pursue a career with Pan American Airways. She later returned home to Boston and by age 24 had saved enough to either purchase a car or take a trip to Europe. She chose the trip. Just before she embarked on her Grand Tour of Europe she met the love of her life, Bob Blankenship in their office building elevator. She had a marvelous time exploring Europe and returned on the Queen Mary, where she was the first-place winner of a shipboard contest. The Loving Cup she was awarded sits proudly in the china cabinet to this day. When she returned, she and Bob promptly got engaged, and married in 1956. They initially settled into Bob‘s childhood home in Milton and began raising a family. The travel bug persisted and she took many trips both with Bob and her growing family. Her children have fond memories of watching their plane take off without them from St. Thomas and a road trip to Key West and back with five children, the youngest of whom was two, packed like sardines into the back of a Ford Gran Torino. After Bob passed away in 1978, her travels continued with many memorable trips to Bermuda, Ireland, Spain, Nova Scotia, and Colorado with her friends and ever-expanding family. Later in life her travels took her from Russia to Mexico and Thailand to France with her best traveling companions, her sisters, brother, and dear sister in-law. 

 

Clare loved to read and often had two, or even three, books going at the same time. Education was important to her and she volunteered her time to the Junior Great Books program at Saint Mary of the Hills school where her children were students.

 

Once her children were grown, she worked for many years at Boston Partners in Education, beginning as a volunteer reading to children in the Boston Public Schools. Clare later worked as a greeter at the Boston Exposition and Convention Center well into her 80s. She gave generously of her time and energy to her community as a member of the Milton Women's Club and as a volunteer with Milton Meals on Wheels. Her faith was central to her life, and she was an active member of St. Agatha Parish, where she served as a lector. 

 

Clare’s other hobbies included gardening, a daily bowl of ice cream, and sitting in the sunshine. She was an accomplished cook and baker and her home on The Ledgeway in Milton was the center of countless gatherings with family and friends. She was happiest when surrounded by the people she loved. 

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on  Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at St. Agatha Church in Milton, MA, with a service commencing at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Milton Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held at Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home in Milton, MA on Monday, May 18, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boston Partners in Education or the Milton Public Library, honoring Clare’s lifelong love of reading and learning.