Blanche Sylvaig Litchfield, a patron of Chicago’s art community and a deaconess at Christ Church in Oak Brook, died Saturday in Hinsdale Hospital. A longtime resident of Hinsdale, she was 82.
Mrs. Litchfield was born in Chicago. She considered pursuing a professional singing career and studied voice at the Chicago Conservatory of Music.
“Her plans changed once she got married,” said her husband, Louis Litchfield, a retired Navy commander.
Mrs. Litchfield traveled the world with her husband and fondly remembered her two years in Morocco, he said.
Mrs. Litchfield participated in various plays and sang with a church choir in the North African country. She continued a lifelong interest in singing and appeared in charity productions of the Chicago Infant Welfare League.
She was a member of the Chicago Art Institute, Historical Society, Chicago Architectural Society, Museum of Science and Industry and the Lyric Opera.
In the mid-1960s she was president of the Woman’s Club of Hinsdale. She also was a longtime volunteer at Hinsdale Hospital.
“Her love of family was paramount,” said her son, Dr. Robert Litchfield.
Mrs. Litchfield organized annual family reunions, including one recent gathering that included a trip to Norway.
Other survivors include a daughter, Sharon Anderson; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until services at 2 p.m. Thursday in Christ Church of Oak Brook, 31st Street and York Road.
