Obituary of Sally P. Blanchet

Sally P. Blanchet, 98, of Pleasant Mills and Freehold passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, July 26, 2018.  She was born in Pulaski, PA on the Phillis family farm.  Mrs. Blanchet was raised in Pleasant Mills before moving to Flemington and eventually settling in Freehold.  Sally attended Mary Washington University for two years and later established the Jean Marie Phillis Scholarship there in her sister’s memory.  She volunteered her time at Freehold Area Hospital, now CentraState Medical Center, where a tower is named after her late husband and late brother.  Sally was a member of Soroptimist International which is an organization that empowers women and girls by providing access to education. She attended Pinelands United Methodist Church and was a member of Old Tennent Church.  As a young married woman she was a talented seamstress and homemaker, always hosting holiday dinners. She had a meal readily available at a moment’s notice, and snacks of cantaloupe, blueberries and string cheese.  Mrs. Blanchet along with her late husband, Tom, founded Freehold Cartage, Inc. in 1962 where she remained actively involved with the business until she was 96 years old.  Her business was her passion; she loved the company and its employees.  Sally’s work family kept her going after Mr. Blanchet passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Blanchet traveled extensively, including trips to Morocco, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Australia and even walked on the Great Wall of China in 1972.  Later in life, she moved back to her childhood home where she remained until the time of her passing. She was passionate about her family, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her business.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Thomas J. Blanchet; Jack L. Phillis, William K. Phillis and Jean Marie Phillis.  Sally is survived by two sons, Tim Blanchet and his wife, Susan of Upper Freehold and Bill Blanchet and his wife, Marnie of Severna Park, MD; and one daughter, Suzanne Hirst and her husband, Greg of Sweetwater; eight grandchildren, Ken Blanchet of Upper Freehold, Blair Hampton and her husband, Tom of Cookstown, Sara Blanchet of Freehold, Chris Blanchet and his wife, Lisa of Millersville, MD, Matt Blanchet and his wife, Lauren of Severna Park, MD, Joe Blanchet and his wife, Barbara of Pasadena, MD, Michael Hirst and his wife, Josefin of Winter Haven, FL, Michelle Krstic and her husband, Dragan of Lincolnwood, IL; eleven great grandchildren, Brielle, Crew, Leigha, Gavin, Joseph, Maggie, Mila, Miller, Blake, Abigail and Chevelle.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, August 3, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her 11:00 AM funeral service on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Old Tennent Church, Tennent Road, Manalapan.  Interment will follow in Old Tennent Cemetery.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Jean Marie Phillis Scholarship, University of Mary Washington, 1119 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 or CentraState Healthcare Foundation, 225 Willow Brook Road, Suite 5, Freehold, NJ  07728.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com