Emily Jefferis Blanca

Emily Jefferis Blanca, a native of Orlando, Florida, passed away on March 7, 2026, at the age of 98. Born on November 30, 1927, she lived a long and full life rooted in the community where she grew up. She attended local schools and graduated from Orlando High School, where she met her future husband, Angel Blanca, who had come from Cuba. They married shortly after graduation and shared 57 years of marriage together.

Emily was a dedicated homemaker who found great joy in gardening and reading mystery novels. She loved to cook, preparing both traditional Southern dishes and special Latin recipes for her family and friends. Her greatest devotion was to her family, and she cherished the companionship of the many dogs she cared for over the years, taking daily walks with them and delighting in their presence.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Angel Blanca; her daughter, Shirley Ross; and her granddaughter, Asheley McCleary.

Emily is survived by her daughter, Angela B. Lane; her son, Walter Blanca (Long Blanca); her sisters, Barbara Bradshaw and Mary Odom; her granddaughter, Kim Dreslin (Andrew Dreslin); her granddaughters, Lane Dreslin, Linnea Dreslin, and Lolly Dreslin; and her grandson, Orion McCleary.