Marian Kopp (Blanchard)

Manchester, NH, January 18, 1930 – July 28, 2021

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”– Philippians 4:13

Age 91, died after losing a valiant battle against a host of illnesses. Born in Canaan, NH, to John and Mary Fisher Blanchard, Marian Lucille Blanchard grew up in Milford, NH, and was a graduate of Milford High School, class of 1948, salutatorian. She graduated valedictorian of her class at Nashua Business College. For a number of years, she was a single working girl, with her own car and apartment, working for the Nashua Trust Company and Itek Corp.

Marian was introduced to Charlie Kopp through their mutual friends, Nancy and Bill Schooley. Marian and Nancy met at the age of 5 in Milford – and even today in their 90s were still talking almost daily – and Bill grew up in the same town as Charlie and they worked together. Nancy and Bill were their representatives when Marian and Charlie married on Christmas Eve in 1964. The Kopps lived in various locations for his work for the U.S. government, including Las Vegas, Nevada; Arlington, Virginia; and Vienna, Austria. After his retirement, they moved back to Milford in 1973, living in her childhood home.

Always active in the Milford United Methodist Church, she served as the church secretary for 33 years, retiring in 2012 at the age of 82. Marian was a master networker, connecting with a lot of people through her kindness and desire to help others. Her Christian faith sustained her, providing patience and peace of mind to cope with life’s challenges.

Marian sang in the church choir for many years and was known to occasionally break out in a song from a Broadway musical; bowled in a league with Charlie; had fond memories of a church trip to the Holy Land; and loved visits to the ocean, her favorite TV shows, quilting, jigsaw puzzles, and card games. She was an avid reader and especially loved reading mysteries and the Mitford Years series. In recent years, she kept up with friends and family on Facebook using her tablet and enjoyed spending time with her family.

Marian’s family thanks the nurses at the Maple Leaf Nursing Home – where she lived for the last three years and made many friends – and the medical team at The Elliot Hospital in Manchester, who took good care of her in her last few weeks.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Charles Louis Kopp, in 1994; sister, Margaret Conti; and brothers, George “Boxie” Blanchard and William Blanchard. Surviving are her children, Janice K. Hanson (Craig Hanson) and Alison M. Kopp (Scott Vachon); her sister-in-law, Joan Blanchard; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held on August 21, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Milford United Methodist Church, 327 North River Road, Milford, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Milford United Methodist Church. Please consider celebrating her life by helping others, reading a good book, or eating a bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce or a coffee frappe.

Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com