By Jakori Madison
The Advocate
BROUSSARD, La. 鈥� Toni Blanchard, a longtime Acadian Ambulance flight nurse, died Aug. 17 at her residence in Broussard. She was 51.
Blanchard joined Acadian in 1992 as an EMT. She had been with Air Med since 2016 as a certified flight registered nurse and flight paramedic.
Blanchard was responsible for teaching and tracking education and credentialing requirements for all flight nurses and flight paramedics, according to the company. She also managed the RN clinical practice clearance and oversaw Air Med鈥檚 blood program.
鈥淭oni was the heart and the den mother of Air Med. She was always there for her staff to discuss problems or concerns while also helping each staff member keep themselves held to the highest expectations of performance,鈥� said program director Marc Creswell.
Blanchard was a native of Carencro where she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, according to Blanchard鈥檚 obituary.
She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2000 and an associate of science in emergency health science from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1993.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Toni made significant contributions in various roles, according to colleagues.
Her earlier roles included critical positions at Acadian Ambulance and Air Med Services, Heart Hospital of Lafayette, Iberia Medical Center, and Cardiology Specialist of Acadiana, among others.
鈥淪ome people can go through life wondering if they made a difference. But not Toni, she made the biggest difference,鈥� said Creswell.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro.
Blanchard鈥檚 family will receive visitors at Melancon Funeral Home, Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel, 4117 N. University Ave., Carencro, from 5 until 9 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.
A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home with a presentation by the Nurses Honor Guard to follow.
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