George E. Blinn

George Elisée Blinn
December 21, 1943 – April 20, 2026

On Monday, April 20, 2026, just as the Boston Marathon was getting underway, George Elisée Blinn ended his two-year marathon battle with cancer.  He was a strong and wonderful presence in the lives of those he touched, with a personality that was big and simple and humble at the same time, and his passing instantly left a huge void in the lives of his closest loved ones.

George had three different occupations throughout his life, and he took pride in doing all of them well.  He was raised on a farm in Sturbridge, MA, and throughout his life he spoke happily about how much he enjoyed the simple hard work that he did there until his early twenties.  After quickly learning that an industrial/factory setting was not for him, George learned drywall finishing from his uncle, Gus Blinn, and eventually started his own business, Quality Drywall, with the name indicating his priority in every job he did.  In his 40+ years as a drywall finisher, he worked in thousands of houses in MA and CT.  For the last 9 years of his working life, into his seventies, George was very proud to continue his pattern of quality work, as the lead maintenance person at Notre Dame Church, where his father and grandfather had also done work, and where he put as much effort into trimming the shrubs evenly as he did keeping the heating system working.

George’s greatest passion, by far, was his family. He leaves his wife, Diane.  George and Diane were mutually devoted to each other for nearly 54 years:  they knew on their first date they were going to get married, and while neither felt the need to ask the other to marry them, they were wed three months later.  Together they bought and renovated a home, started his business, and raised a family.  George leaves his son, Roger, who was also his best friend, his daughter-in-law Tina, who he loved like a daughter and who treated him like a father, and his grandchildren Meredith (his “Peanut”), and Douglas (his “Baby Doug”), who both loved their Pépère dearly.  George was the kind of family man who stayed actively involved with his family, in countless large and small ways, from helping Roger and Tina renovate an historic house every weekend for several years, to attending the games, plays, concerts, graduations, etc., of Meredith and Douglas.  George also leaves behind his sister, Madeleine, who he shared a lifelong bond with, and numerous sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces, and nephews, all of whom were very special to him.  

While George was not a highly educated man, he was surely a wise man, and he quietly and patiently instilled solid values into his family, and gave sage advice to family and friends when asked.  George loved to play cribbage throughout his life, a skill he was proud to pass on to his daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and he was once a serious, tournament-winning billiards player.  He also loved keeping his house and landscaping in immaculate condition, providing an array of feed and housing to wild birds, and puttering in his basement workshop. 

Calling hours will be from 2 – 4 PM on Sunday, April 26, at Sansoucy Funeral Home in Southbridge, MA.  There will be a funeral Mass at 11AM, Monday, April 27, 2026, at St. Mary’s Church, 247 Hamilton Street, Southbridge, MA, followed immediately by the burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 14 Old Webster Road, Webster, MA.

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