Blanche McHugh Obituary

Just recently I was thinking of Blanche; I´m surprised it´s been so long since the world lost this special woman. NIU is a lesser place with her loss. I miss her.

I knew Blanche while she was at the University of Florida . she was my ra. My friend patti and I became best friends with Blanche. We did crazy things together. She had an infectious laugh! She also told you straight when you were doing something stupid.
We all went to disney world when it first opened. We did so many things together. Went horseback riding on the weekend. Blanche was the only one who had a car.lol.
I am sorry to hear of her passing, even though it has been 5 years.
Blanche i know you are being crazy in heaven now.
I will remember and love you forever.

I think of you so often Blanche and the wonderful memories. I miss you. Love from your friend Brenda Sherwood

Cannot believe it had been five years since this amazing and influential woman left this earth. Blanche will live in the hearts of all who knew her forever. Blanche taught me so much about life and justice. Being an RA at Grant North with Blanche as our leader will always be one of my favorite times in my life. Words cannot describe all I learned from her.

I really really miss her. We lived in the same apartment building.

Blanche was a very tenderhearted person, skilled in her work within the dorms (I knew her from Grant North). I only just found out about her passing after the fact. My sincerest condolences to her survivors. May the God of Peace send Peace to all of you that mourn, and comfort all of the bereaved.

OMG Not being from DeKalb I pulled up the funeral home to look up a friends father and saw my dear friend Blanche name. I am so sad to see this. Know she was a wonderful, wonderful lady and will be missed by anyone on this earth who knew her

My condolences to the McHugh family on Blanche's passing. She was such a special person to many of us while we were at NIU. Though my "boss", Blanche was also a friend and confidante. She was always willing to help us grow as individuals and was amazing in a crisis. She touched so many lives. My thoughts are prayers are with your family.

I love you Blanche and will miss you more then words can express.

I just found out my sweet, wonderful,dear friend and neighbor, Blanche McHugh passed away. She was my apartment neighbor while I lived in Sycamore, IL. My heart is broken. I love her and will miss her. So thankful she is no longer in pain. Rest in God's loving arms my friend and I will see you again.

Blanche trained so many of us as staff at NIU to do social justice work! I can still see her taking us through the Skill Development for Success in a Multicultural Environment curriculum with such grace and joy! She lives on in our hearts and minds! May her soul rest in peace!
-Shiraz Tata

Blanche will live on in the minds and hearts of her many RAs from Grant North. I was lucky enough to serve for 2 years, 1983-1985 and became the person I am because of this wonderful experience.

Blanche will forever be etched in the hearts of many RAs at Grant Tower North as well as many others in the NIU Housing Department. Blanche was an inspiring leader who taught others about compassion, justice, and tolerance-among many other virtues. As a Resident Assistant, I got to know Blanche during my junior year at NIU. I always looked forward to Sunday evening staff meetings, which often taught me more about life than my classes did. My friends and I would often visit Blanche and spend time talking with her. She was an integral part of my college experience even beyond RA duties.She helped me to be accepting of all people of different walks of life. Blanche made me want to be a better leader, something that has proven invaluable in my career as a teacher. Blanche shared her passion and energy to make residence hall life a positive experience and she will be so dearly missed by all she touched. My prayers and condolences are with the McHugh family at this difficult time.

When Blanche came to Northern, I was a fairly new faculty member who soon learned that if I needed help tracking down a student who was missing from my classroom, the answer would come from Blance McHugh. We'd work together to get or give the missing student help and support. For four decades, I had the privilege of working with this woman, most often when I was in an administrative role in one of Northern's colleges and needed her help with an undergraduate. Blanche was bright, fun, caring and competent. She was a tremendous asset to our university; she made Northern a far better place than it can possibly be without her. My condolences to all her family, including her NIU family, who miss her beyond words.

Heartfelt sympathies for your family. Keeping you in my prayers. Cindy Stansell

May you find peace and comfort in the memories you had with Blanche. Although difficult as it is missing her in body, be consoled in God's promise of everlasting peace in heaven. Our prayers and sympathy are with your family this most difficult week.

Prayers and thoughts are with your family. Ivan and Darlina

Dear Patrick and Family,

I am glad that I was able to meet Blanche and hear about her accomplishments via our conversations. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and may happy memories carry you through this sorrowful time. Have hope in tomorrow, have faith in the everlasting and take comfort in the love of friends and family. With deep sympathy from your friends at this time of sadness. You're in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers.

Mortar Board was proud to claim Blanche as a member. Please accept our deep sympathy and know of our most sincere regard for the way that she lived Mortar Board's Ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.

Rest in pain free peace, Blanche.

My thoughts and prayers are with all who were impacted by this amazing woman. Blanche was a great mentor to me and I don't think I'd be where I am today without her guidance, support and care. My deepest sympathies are with all grieving this loss and celebrating her life.

Blanche was such an amazing and special person that made a significant impact on everyone that had the privilege of working with her. I first met her when I was a student, and worked with her later as a colleague, and was always impressed with her incredible wisdom, insight, and devotion. She made such an impact on NIU Housing and the thousands of students and hundreds of staff that she worked with that her legacy continues to live on. I strive to someday be the leader and professional that she was. My most sincere condolences to the McHugh family and to the many friends and colleagues that were touched by Blanche.