Shelley A. (Russell) Blanchard, 61, of Rochester died Aug. 4 at home after a long illness surrounded by her family.

She was the wife of Stewart A. Blanchard.

Born in Boston, the daughter of the late Howard and Pauline (Sekulich) Russell, she was raised in Brockton and moved to Rochester in 1984.

Mrs. Blanchard was formerly employed as a special education teacher with the Department of Education working in various hospital settings with disabled children for many years retiring from Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton in 2010.

She was a graduate of Stonehill College, class of 1975, and later received her masters degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University.

Mrs. Blanchard enjoyed spending time with her beloved dogs, skiing, golfing, shopping, listening to the Eagles and the company of her friends.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Daniel Russell Blanchard and his fiancée Michelle Thibodeau of Lakeville; a daughter, Caroline Marie Blanchard of Mattapoisett; a sister, Susan Weigand of Howell, Michigan; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her visiting hours will be held on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Road (Route 6) Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to American Lab Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 215 Willington, CT 06279-0215. For directions and guestbook, www.saundersdwyer.com.