Thana Manette (Blanc) Brand

Thana Manette Blanc Brand, 93 years old, was born on love day February 14, 1919. She was set free from her body on July 6, 2012 in her home at Evergreen Assisted Living Community in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Thana was born to parents Iva (Bowen) and Ben Blanc in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She had one older brother, Neil. She lived well past her parents and brothers age who preceded her in transition. After completing high school in Beaver Dam, Thana became the first in her family to graduate from college. She received her training from Marquette University. During her studies at St. Josephs Hospital in Milwaukee, she met a handsome young intern and quickly married before his leave for naval training. Thana and William D. Brand lived and worked a short time in New Orleans during WWII until Bill was assigned to the naval base in St. Petersberg, Florida. Thana returned to her family home to give birth to her first child Anne Manette (Rockhill). She then traveled back to Florida via train with her newborn. Two years later, a second child, Michael William (married to Denise Rheaume) was born. The war ended and the family of four bought their first home in Milwaukee in 1948. Over the course of the next 12 years they had 4 more children: Margot Mary Brand (married to David Ostwald), Mary Kathleen Brand-Njoku (married to Eni Gerald Njoku), Jeanne Marie Brand (married Art Panke), and Elizabeth Mary Terese Unpingco (married to Cy Segundo Unpingco). After many busy years fulfilling her roles as doctors wife and mother, Thana returned to school to earn her masters degree in Administrative Leadership from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She then went on to teach clinical nursing at Columbia Hospital school of nursing. Upon retirement in 1984 she did volunteer work. Over the years she became a grandmother to 12 grandchildren: Michael, Andrew, Dennis, and Rebecca, Rhonda, Olinga, Benjamin, Gwendolyn, Megan, Monika, Eni-William, and Ian. Her great-grandchildren are: Dalice, Anika, Hamza, Safia, Makayla, Kaitlyn, Marcus, Andrew, Chastity, Autumn, Holly, Kye, Nathan and Regan. In 2000, Thana moved to Evergreen Assisted Living Retirement Community in Oshkosh where she spent the last 12 years of her life in the loving and faithful attendance of daughter Margot with frequent visits from her other out of town family members. Thana loved babies, cats, art, nature, ice-cream, cross word puzzles, friends and her family. She is known for her dry sense of humor, keen intelligence, adventurous spirit, creativity, and tender and caring heart. As an American woman in society, she gave all she could give. Toward the end of her life she was finally able to indulge in one of her most desired activities - sleep! In her own words, can there ever be enough? Her children and some grandchildren were able to keep vigil over her time of passing. We will greatly miss her presence on earth and proclaim that she loved. THE ME I WANTED TO BEBy Thana (Blanc) BrandWhen I was a small child all I wanted was to be good.It was an all-encompassing feeling.As I grew in age, stature and knowledge of my surroundings,Being good meant pleasing my mother, my brother and my father.My father wasnt around a lot because of having to work long hours.Pleasing my mother to approval,Pleasing my brother to gain his acceptance,Pleasing my father to feel loved.I had no exposure to a concept of God or spirituality.As time passed and my world expanded to include the school environment,Teachers and classmates.I learned the behaviors that were acceptable to others and those that gave me pleasure.Years later when I was required to take classes for non-Catholics;I became aware of how religion and Christianity affected living.THEN CAME SCIENCE OF MIND!!For me a new philosophy, a faith, a way of life!!It taught me there is one power-A spiritual power-The power of life-A creative power present here now and forever.And I can ?.....It responds to my thoughts and desires.I desire to be healthy, happy, joyous, and peaceful.I want to be able to listen.To accept others the way they are.To love and accept myself as I am.To be able to meditate and pray.To open and strengthen my communication with SpiritTO BE GOODI want my eulogy to say-SHE LOVED