Lorena E. Bianco, 87
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Lorena Eileen "Renie" Bianco, 87, of Marion Avenue died at home on Sunday, June 5, 2011, surrounded by her family.
She was born in Baltimore on Feb. 26, 1924, the daughter of Kunibert and Eileen Picker. She attended Lansdowne Elementary School and graduated from Catonsville High School in 1941 and from the Bard-Avon School of Secretarial Science in 1943.
Mrs. Bianco was employed by the Westinghouse Electric Corp. Radar Division as a secretary to the industrial relations manager.
She married Dr. Norman V. Bianco, a local dentist, on Oct. 6, 1945, at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore. In 1946, they settled in his hometown of North Adams.
Mrs. Bianco was very active in community affairs throughout her life. She was a member of the North Adams Hospital Auxiliary and worked on the rummage sale and also in the gift shop. She was a 20-year Red Cross volunteer, working for the blood bank. She was a Girl Scout leader for seven years for the Brayton School troop and was the director of the Western Massachusetts Girl Scout Council for many years and a member of its board. She also was a member and secretary of the board of directors of the Northern Berkshire YMCA and an incorporator of Hoosac Bank.
She taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine at the former St. Anthony's Church and always worked at its annual bazaar.
She was a longtime member of the Travel Club, an avid bridge player and a golfer and longtime member of the Taconic Golf Club, where she was president of the club's Woman's Association.
Survivors include her beloved husband of 65 years; a son, Dr. James M. Bianco and his wife, Martha, of Hollis, N.H.; three daughters, Rosemary Bianco of Mystic, Conn., Patricia Willette and her husband, David, of North Adams, and Linda Williams and her husband, Richard, of Clarksburg; a sister, Fleurice Schwarzkopf and her husband, Thomas, of Baltimore; loving grandsons Ross R. Williams of New York City, Nathaniel D. Willette of Missoula, Mont., Griffin D. Willette of the town of Florida and Michael P. and John J. Bianco of Hollis, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers Clinton, Millard, Wallace and Douglas Picker, and by her grandson Sean B. Williams, late of Clarksburg.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' Funeral services for Mrs. Bianco will take place Wednesday, June 8, at 9:15 a.m. from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Elizabeth's Church, North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, June 7, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested for the Sean B. Williams Memorial fund or to VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire through the funeral home.