Marie Claire (Bourque) Blenkarn (1907 - 2007)

Born 3 Feb 1907 in Rogersville, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Joel Frederick Blenkarn — married 7 Oct 1939 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Died 27 Sep 2007 at age 100 in Lakewood, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Clara was born 3 February 1907 in Rosaireville, New Brunswick to Felicien Bourque (abt.1879-abt.1970) and Catherine (Arsenault) Bourque (abt.1879-),

She was living in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1932 when she met her future husband, Joel Frederick Blenkarn (1910-1993) of British Columbia. She and Fred corresponded for many years and finally married at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Westminster, British Columbia, on October 7, 1939. In 1944 her family followed them to BC and bought a sawmill, prompting Fred to buy a complimentary planing mill.

They had one child, Marie (1942-??) Fred called this "a great event for us as Clara is only 4'4" tall."

Early in the 1950's the couple sold their house to buy a sawmill in the Cariboo Region of BC near Quesnel, later expanding to two sawmills. Unfortunately the bottom fell out of the lumber market and they lost their business. Seeking a new start, in February of 1958 they moved to El Cajon, California. Fred got work at a lumber firm in San Diego and was successful in this line of business up until his retirement at the end of 1975. By this time they had moved to Lakewood, California, as well as becoming Naturalized US Citizens (1969). Sometime in the 1960s they became involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement.

Fred and Clara actively helped their daughter Marie raise her three sons, their father being absent for unknown reasons.

In 1981 Clara appeared in a bit part in the movie "Under the Rainbow" starring Chevy Chase and Billy Barty. She lamented that "so many great scenes" were left on the cutting-room floor, along with her only line.

Clara passed away in Lakewood 27 September 2007.

Research Notes

At this time (7 September 2022) the Library and Archives of Canada database is offline pending transition to a new site. Consequently the Sources section of this provile uses indirect citation to the Census of Canada via Familysearch.

Sources

• Birth record: "Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F28N-8MN : 27 November 2014), Marie Claire Bourque, 03 Feb 1907; citing Rogersville, Northumberland, New Brunswick, 03 Feb 1907, reference 27; FHL microfilm 2,320,161.
• "Canada, New Brunswick County Register of Births, 1801-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D8DF-C1MM : 22 October 2020), Marie Claire Bourque, 1907.
• "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-RPY1 : 17 March 2022), Claira Bourque in entry for Filicien Bourque, 1911; citing Census, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm .
• First hand account by Fred Blenkarn in Dorothy L. Taylor. Blenkarn Tapestry, Converse Printing, Douglas, Wyoming, 1989. p.283-285 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3W-TSM1-6?cat=504395 : Accessed 7 September 2022)
• Joel F Blenkarn with wife Marie Blenkarn in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Residence Year 1959, ElCajon, San Diego, California, USA, Occupation Yardman. (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/30293437?h=23952a : Accessed 7 September 2022)
• Clara Blenkarn in the U.S., Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) 25 July 1969 (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/30293290?h=0a035a : : Accessed 7 September 2022)
• Clara Blankarn as "Hotel Rainbow Guest" in cast list for "Under the Rainbow (1981)" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083254/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm : Accessed 7 September 2022)
• Clara Blenkarn Obituary in Long Beach Press-Telegram published Oct. 2, 2007
• Clara Blenkarn in"United States Social Security Death Index," database, 27 Sep 2007, Last Residence Lakewood, Los Angeles, California, USA (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/30295025?h=f16e3b : Accessed 7 September 2022)