Folsom Funeral Service

Lora Blanche (Blake) Harding, a resident of Westwood since 1951, died Saturday, August 14, 2010 at her home in Westwood after a long illness.  She was 86.  Lora was born November 15, 1923 in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, a daughter of Charles Albert and Priscilla (Vadeboncoeur) Blake.  She grew up in Braintree and graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree in 1940 and then earned her bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe College with the Class of 1944.  She was one of the first women to graduate from that college with a degree in chemistry.  Lora worked as a research chemist for the Arthur D. Little Company of Cambridge where she participated in the early years of polymer science.  She enjoyed that field for seven years until she left in 1950 to raise her children.  She was an active member of the Islington Community Church in Westwood and she volunteered transcribing books into braille for the Books for Blind project.  Lora is survived by her husband of 61 years, William B. Harding; her son, Dr. Leslie C. Harding of Jay, Maine; her daughter, Atty Kathryn B. Harding, and her husband Atty Edward J. Richardson, of Westwood; her three grandchildren, Elaine H. Richardson of Westwood, William F.H. Richardson of Westwood, and Mila Harding Omar, N.P., and her husband Hany, of Ellicott City, Maryland; her great granddaughter, Diana Nour Omar of Ellicott City, Maryland; her sister, Miriam C. Roeder of Holden and Humarock Beach; and her brother Robert I. Blake of Norwell.  Services and interment will be private.  In lieu of flowers donations to VNA Care Network and Hospice, 175 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 would be appreciated.

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