1921
Blanche
2018
Blanche Lund
July 22, 1921 — December 1, 2018
Blanche Mary Lund passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Victoria House, Orillia on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in her 98th year. Hers was a life filled with joy, family, and dance.
She met our father Alan Lund when she was 13 in Toronto Canada, they lived only a few blocks away from each other in Riverdale. That was a time just before the great depression, both Alan and Blanche were studying dance and were determined to become dancers. When they teamed up at the age of 14, they started making a name for themselves as ‘Lee and Sandra' in the hotel shows across Canada and in the U.S.
When war broke out in Europe and Canada joined the fight, Alan wanted to joint the Royal Canadian Navy. Blanche wouldn't let him go without her, so she joined as well, it was at this point that he proposed to Blanche so that he could take care of her overseas. They went on to be part of the Canadian Navy Show that entertained the troupes overseas in the UK, France and then in Germany at the end of the war. Performing in multiple Command Performances for the Queen, their talent didn't go unnoticed back here in Canada.
Alan and Blanche became the first contract dancers to sign with the newly formed CBC Television, performing weekly on ‘Cross Canada Hit Parade' and the General Electric ‘Show Time'. Dancing and choreographing the dance numbers for the shows.
After retirement from a 22-year dance career, Blanche and Alan spent summers in Charlottetown, PEI where Alan was the Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Summer Festival for over twenty years.
Blanche directed and choreographed shows herself well into her 80's. Including the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Her last "gig" was the ‘Meet the Navy' dance ensemble for the International Tattoo in 2010.
In 2018 she was able to attend one more performance of Alan and Blanche's creation ‘Swing' in Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Blanche is survived by her sons, Raymond (Janice), Kevin (Peggy) and Jeffrey (Maria). She is pre-deceased by her husband Alan and son Brian (Pansy)
She was the proud grandmother of sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Friends and relatives are invited to join the family at Cavill Funeral Home, Gravenhurst, on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00am. A reception will follow in the Terry Fox Hall at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre.
Memorial contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society greatly appreciated. Personal condolences may be offered at www.cavillfuneralhome.com
When: Saturday, December 8th, 2018 11:00am
Location: Cavill-Turner Funeral Home
Address: 215-1 Bay Street GRAVENHURST, ON P1P1H1
Location: Terry Fox Room at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre
Address: 101 Centennial Drive GRAVENHURST, ON P1P1B7
She met our father Alan Lund when she was 13 in Toronto Canada, they lived only a few blocks away from each other in Riverdale. That was a time just before the great depression, both Alan and Blanche were studying dance and were determined to become dancers. When they teamed up at the age of 14, they started making a name for themselves as ‘Lee and Sandra' in the hotel shows across Canada and in the U.S.
When war broke out in Europe and Canada joined the fight, Alan wanted to joint the Royal Canadian Navy. Blanche wouldn't let him go without her, so she joined as well, it was at this point that he proposed to Blanche so that he could take care of her overseas. They went on to be part of the Canadian Navy Show that entertained the troupes overseas in the UK, France and then in Germany at the end of the war. Performing in multiple Command Performances for the Queen, their talent didn't go unnoticed back here in Canada.
Alan and Blanche became the first contract dancers to sign with the newly formed CBC Television, performing weekly on ‘Cross Canada Hit Parade' and the General Electric ‘Show Time'. Dancing and choreographing the dance numbers for the shows.
After retirement from a 22-year dance career, Blanche and Alan spent summers in Charlottetown, PEI where Alan was the Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Summer Festival for over twenty years.
Blanche directed and choreographed shows herself well into her 80's. Including the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Her last "gig" was the ‘Meet the Navy' dance ensemble for the International Tattoo in 2010.
In 2018 she was able to attend one more performance of Alan and Blanche's creation ‘Swing' in Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Blanche is survived by her sons, Raymond (Janice), Kevin (Peggy) and Jeffrey (Maria). She is pre-deceased by her husband Alan and son Brian (Pansy)
She was the proud grandmother of sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Friends and relatives are invited to join the family at Cavill Funeral Home, Gravenhurst, on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00am. A reception will follow in the Terry Fox Hall at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre.
Memorial contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society greatly appreciated. Personal condolences may be offered at www.cavillfuneralhome.com
Service Details.
Service
When: Saturday, December 8th, 2018 11:00am
Location: Cavill-Turner Funeral Home
Address: 215-1 Bay Street GRAVENHURST, ON P1P1H1
Reception
Location: Terry Fox Room at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre
Address: 101 Centennial Drive GRAVENHURST, ON P1P1B7
Guestbook
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