Obituary of Blanche Bellefountaine

Laura Blanche (Quinton) Bellefountaine, passed away in Fredericton, NB, on February 8, 2026, after a short hospital stay. She leaves behind 4 children who cherished her and 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Grammie B.”

Blanche was born in Corner Brook to Levi and Miriam Quinton and was a proud “girl from the Rock” to the end. After a “great childhood down by the bay” she hopped the “Newfie Bullet” and emigrated to Halifax, in 1948 right before Newfoundland joined Confederation. There she worked at Moirs Chocolate Factory where she met her future husband, Michael Bellefountaine. As a military wife Blanche eventually landed in Oromocto where she had a long career working as a lab assistant at the Oromocto Hospital. 

Blanche enjoyed her life to the fullest – travelling home to Newfoundland regularly and to many parts of the world with her dear friends Marie, Dorothy, Shirley and Grace. She loved to dance and in her younger years could be found kicking up her heels at the Oromocto Legion on Saturday nights. She was a bit of a thrill seeker and in her 60’s frequently went white water rafting on the rivers of Maine. She was also an avid knitter and a regular card player with her friends Carol and Elaine. She got a little addicted to her scratch tickets and was convinced she was beating the game.

Blanche was always up for a family party and entertained at many gatherings with jokes and stories about her life growing up in Corner Brook. And she was a good sport about being the brunt of off colour jokes and stories herself - simply saying with a smile, “It’s shocking what you say to your mother”.  

Blanche is survived by her children, Marilyn McKay of Charlottetown, Ellen Bellefountaine of Oromocto, Diane Eder (Ron) of Hatchet Lake and Brian Bellefountaine (Lise Cook) of Lincoln. She is deeply missed by her grandchildren, Kirk Graham, Jamie Graham, Melanie Lindsay-Graham, Dean Graham, Eli Eder (Jim Lydon), Krystle Nadeau (Josh), Rachel Bellefountaine and Michael Bellefountaine, as well as her many great grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. 

Favourite Blanche stories are welcomed. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. For those who wish, donations in Blanche's memory may be made to Greener Village Food Bank, Fredericton. https://www.greenervillage.ca/