Long, Blanche

Blanche Long, 97 of Mount Vernon, formerly of Lisbon, died Friday, July 19, 2013 at Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25, at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW. Services will begin at 11 a.m. A Celebration gathering for Blanche will be held in The Avacentre immediately following the services. Burial will be in the Lisbon Cemetery.

Blanche was born Jan. 17, 1916, in rural Mount Vernon to Emil and Caroline Biderman. On April 30, 1938, she married Merle M. Long in Nashua. She was a lifelong resident and homemaker in the Lisbon-Mount Vernon area. She loved to cook and bake and was the cook at the Lisbon School and Hillcrest Country Club. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1933, was a member of the First Federated Church in Lisbon and did volunteer work for Southeast Linn County Community Services.

Blanche loved people, music, dancing, playing cards and being with her family, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Sally (husband Kelsey Long) of Las Vegas, Nev.; three grandsons, Eric Long of Las Vegas, Nev., Blair McLaughlin (wife Merilee) of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Dr. Blaine McLaughlin (wife Christine), and three great-grandchildren (Alexa, Devin and Clayden McLaughlin), all of Robins. She is also survived by longtime friend and companion, Leonard Jelinek of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merle Long; her daughter, Jeanette McLaughlin; and brother, Adolph Biderman.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.

Published July 21, 2013 in The Gazette