Blanche Ann Basler

A memorial mass will be held July 13, 2024 for 85-year-old Blanche Ann Basler who passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, May 20, 2024, at her home in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Ann was born January 1, 1939, a daughter of Dr. Arthur and Regina Sexauer.

 

She married John Basler in August 1960. They were married for 62 years, until John passed away in February 2023.

 

Ann is survived by four children: John Jeffrey Basler, Michael David Basler (Elizabeth), Mary Claire Twardowski (Greg), and Susan Basler Corriere (Mark); 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother: Dr. Charles Sexauer and a sister: Mary Claire “Mimi” Sexauer.

 

She was raised in Ste Genevieve, Mo., and graduated from Valle Catholic High School in Ste Genevieve.

 

She went on to earn a nursing degree from the DePaul School of Nursing in St. Louis.

 

While trained as a nurse, Ann’s true calling in life was as a mother, wife, grandmother and devout Catholic.

 

She was actively engaged in the lives of her children.

 

She was a selfless mother who was den mother for the cub scout troop, was chairwoman for her each of her children’s school auctions, school boards, and mother’s clubs and was a cheerleader at every extra-curricular event for each of her children.

 

As a wife, she proudly and quietly raised the children while John pursued his career as a tax accountant and partner with Arthur Andersen & Co., which eventually took John and Ann to Chattanooga, Tennessee, until John retired in 1994.

 

As a devout Catholic, Ann regularly attended daily Mass, was the church organist, prayed the rosary every day and was an active participant and leader at their parishes.

 

After John retired, they divided their time between Naples, Florida and St Louis, Missouri where Ann lived her most cherished role in life as a grandmother.

 

Nana was present for every major event for her grandchildren, from baptisms to first communions, confirmations, graduations, and weddings, and rarely missed a sporting event for her St. Louis grandchildren.

 

She especially loved to entertain the grandchildren at their home in Naples, where she would take them to the beach, treat them to lunch at the pool or challenge the grandkids to her favorite past time of playing cards and board games.

 

The family would especially like to express our gratitude to Mary, Michelle, Bre, Christine and Sara for their genuine love and care for our mother over the past few years.

 

A memorial mass for 85-year-old Blanche Ann Basler will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13 at the Church of the Annunziata in Ladue, Missouri.

 

The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to Mass.

Memorials may be made to the John and Ann Basler Scholarship Fund at St. Louis University Business School or to St Joseph’s Academy.