Simone E. (Trottier) Blake

Simone Elaise Trottier Blake passed on to her next adventure on Monday October 31, 2022, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA.

Simone was born at the Lucy Helen Hospital, Fitchburg, MA on November 24, 1939, daughter of the late Joseph Pierre Chevigny and Elaise Therese (Carey) Trottier. She is survived by two children, Scott Michael (Michelle Stenuis Victoria Blake) of Ashby and Bethany Ann Blake (Patrick Kelly) of Boxford, MA. She leaves five grandchildren, Cassie Lee Blake DeMass (Alan) of Gardner, MA, Marissa Ann Blake Hamilton Hofstetter (Benjamin) of Lyndeborough, NH, Grace Elaise Kelly of Malden, MA, Nora Elizabeth Kelly of Denver, CO, and Luke Patrick Kelly of Boxford, two step grandchildren Elizabeth Nicole Victoria of Ashby and Michael James Victoria (Hannah) of Leominster, MA, five great-grandchildren Hannah and Benjamin Hamilton, Brynlee and Maddex DeMass, and Abigail Hofstetter, and two step great-grandchildren Connor and Elizabeth Hofstetter. A brother also survives her, Raymond P. Trottier (Sally) of Laconia, NH, and a sister Claudette M. Vincent (Alan) of Baldwinville, MA and several dear nieces and nephews. She also leaves her former daughter-in-law, Rhonda Goguen Blake of Gardner, MA, and many amazing and wonderful friends.

She was an active member of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Leominster having researched and written the parish’s 60th anniversary booklet and served in various ministries.

Simone graduated from St. Bernard Central Catholic High School in 1957. A self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” she received a Bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State University in1988 and Masters in Library Science from Simmons College, Boston in 1990. She continued studies for an advanced degree in Library Management. She begun volunteer work in a small Fitchburg Public Library branch at the Veteran’s project on Wanoosnoc Road; began working in 1954 at the Fitchburg Public Library as a Page and left as a Reference Assistant in 1960. Following that she spent many years in the library at St. Bernard Central Catholic High School and later at the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library at Fitchburg State (College) University until her retirement in 2007. She was granted Emerita status that same year. She also loved to share that she worked for a brief time in the Communications/Media department of the university prior to her library position.

Simone was active in Girl Scouting in the Fitchburg and Montachusett Councils for over 30 years as a scout, leader, service team and neighborhood chairperson as well as camp director for the former Camp Wakitatina in Fitchburg. She was also a life member of the Fitchburg Historical Society, having served for more than five decades on several committees, member, and president of the Board of Directors and as a volunteer. She was a researcher for the two-volume history of Fitchburg authored by Doris Kirkpatrick, The City and the River and Around the World in Fitchburg. She also compiled the Montachusett Girl Scout Heritage Trail Guidebook published in 1973. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society, participated in NewVue Communities’ Steward Programs, and was a board member of the Fitchburg Abolitionist Park. She extended her learning to traveling as often as she could to such places as Spain, Peru, Israel, and Italy. She enjoyed touring the United States West with her cousins Nancy and Charles. Simone spent most of her life meeting and learning about people from many cultures around the world. Her home became known as an International Guest House. Everyone was welcome. Of all the blessings in her life, her greatest were her children.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Food Pantry (to nourish), or NewVue Communities, Inc. (to make homes), or a charity of your choice.

The family will try to live stream the service (technical difficulties notwithstanding). 

Please link to https://bit.ly/SEBlakeService

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A Mass for Simone is being celebrated on Tuesday, November 15,2022 @10a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake church 1400 Main St. Leominster, MA and all are welcome  to attend.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Simone E. (Trottier) Blake, please visit our floral store.