Blanche Smith Penn Donovan, a descendant of the William Penn Family was born in Santurce Puerto Rico along with her late sister Lillian to William Isaac Smith and Mary Eliza Penn and was raised in Puerto Rico and Tortola,British Virgin Islands with their younger brother the late Conrad Garfield Smith.

As a young child she attended the East End Public School in Tortola, where her aunt was her first teacher. As a child she learned the piano and music theory and appreciation for all genres of music . As a teenager, the "twins " returned to Puerto Rico and attended the Julian Blanco Public School. Following the death of their father, they both relocated to New York City having the opportunity to widen their horizons culturally and socially and even taking in a few clubs hearing the sounds of many Latin artists. One of her first jobs was a seamstress where sometimes her twin sister filled in for her unnoticed by the employer because of their identical looks and demeanor.

In January 1949 she entered into Holy Matrimony to Randolph Donovan her husband for 54 years who heard her playing the organ in church in Tortola, and they later settled in Philadelphia. Her musical talents became an even bigger influence in her life through her choir and vocal expressions. Shortly after arriving in Philadelphia she was joined by her twin sister and son Glenn Bryan whom she affectionately referred to as "her son". They all lived together for their entire life with pure unconditional and priceless love for each other. It often was the home that found others gravitating to for residency and long visits searching for that same special one of a kind love and caring that could only be found on Locust Street. "Blanchey "as her son referred to her continued to pursue educational opportunities by completing her education at Standard Evening High School, and became one of the first early graduates of Community College of Philadelphia in 1971 in Financial Management. She continued her educational pursuits through continuing education courses at local colleges and universities. She successfully found a financial position with the former Ferronce Beauty Products Company, one of the first African American businesses in Philadelphia where she retired in 1981. She turned her attention and financial talents over to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church where she served as Financial Secretary for over five decades establishing financial systems to implement at the church and it's Community Center even until her passing as the oldest member of CELC. She also provided consultation to other community based social service non profits. Her financial talents were also utilized by her husband in real estate transactions and related activities. She also found time to preside over the Women of CELC, the Finance Committee, the Senior and Chancel Choirs and numerous church organizations. One of her major successes was in 1970 when she and her sister raised funds for the purchase of CELC's concert organ played every Sunday by her son. A major portion of her time was spent in calling and visiting those that were sick and in need ,providing food to those that were hungry, and clothing and funds to those that were in need. She also became the iron chef of baking delicious cakes that found their way on many tables and church functions. Most of her time was spent loving and caring for her family including her grand children and great grand child Harper Rae, taking trips with her son and daughter in law including trips to Tortola for her birthdays, and with her newly found sister Lucy Perry, but more importantly not missing a Sunday at her beloved church. Blanchey was a true servant of Christ embodying and demonstrating the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23  with abundant love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. As her husband Randolph, her sister Lillian and brother Conrad, she showed the true meaning of humility found in Matthew 20: 26-28 "whoever would be great among you must be first among you must be your slave,even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve". In her more recent days she helped her daughter in law Nina with catering projects and experimental culinary delights and tolerated the food prepared by her son who demonstrated a clear inability to cook. She was blessed to have her nephew William and Milagros Smith who served her by preparing her favorite food treats and insisting that she speak her native language of Spanish. Days before her transition she was going on outings with her son, dropping a few coins at a casino to shopping and visiting sick and shut in family members and friends, paying bills, enjoying music, playing dominoes, ordering items from an IPOD, and making sure she she didn't miss a minute of her Phillies in Spring Training. 

Blanchey understood the true meaning of the life that was given to her for over 96 years, trusting all the way in The Lord. She promised her sister Lillian that she would carry on living life until the Lord would call her home to reunite. She promised to take care of her son and family , and she did just that and more through her beautiful unconditional love and sweetness that could not be surpassed.

She leaves to cherish numerous precious memories by her immediate family her son Glenn Bryan, daughter in law, Nina Bryan, grandchildren, Khalilah, Glenn Jr, Gina, Jon, and great granddaughter Harper Rae. She also leaves cherished memories of her nephew and wife William and Milagros Smith, sisters in Christ Mavis George's, Victoria Gumbs, eleven God children, sister in laws Florence Hill, Mavis Brady, Hilda Smith, brother in law Guy Donovan , a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Randolph Stanley Donovan , sister Lillian Smith Penn Bryan,  sister Mary David, and brother Conrad Garfield Snith.