Hermina Blake

Hermina Blake (Kemper), 87 of St. Anne, passed away, Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at Citadel of Bourbonnais Facility. Headstrong, she took her final steps on this earthly journey surrounded by loving friends and family. Hermina was born May 11, 1935 in Nakovo, Yugoslavia, the only child to Anton and Elisabeth Kemper, found themselves on a boat to United States in the 1950's, where Kankakee, became their home. On August 25, 1962 Hermina married S. Ray Blake at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Kankakee. Mrs. Blake was a homemaker and retired waitress. She spent her years working side by side with her husband S. Ray Blake, owner and operator of Ray Blake Food Service affiliated with KCC Food Service. In her later years Hermina, along with her family ran Sugar Island Produce at the Kankakee Farmers Market, where she and Ray were active members for several years. Hermina spent her days baking breads and sweets, cooking food of any kind, gardening, working in the yard and planting flowers by the hundreds. You would not often find Hermina somewhere that her little red tractor was not. She lived for her family, always with a smile on her face and sweat on her brow, sacrificing all that she could to provide a good life for herself and the people she loved. Surviving are her two daughters, Lori Blake and Karen Jenkins; five grandchildren, Marcus Jenkins, Eli Lopes and Nelson Lopes; Ashley Senesac (partner) Chris Kurtz; Mark Senesac; Jessica Erickson (husband) Kevin Erickson and one great-grandchild Alex Erickson; Special Family; Ron Barker; Kira Barker; Taryn Sharp; Joseph Sharp; (Kaden, Grayson, Brodyn, Ryker); Travis Barker; Liz Barker (Grace, Owen, Avery, Max). Proceeded in death by one son Ray Blake; Husband S. Ray Blake; and parents Anton and Elisabeth Kemper. Burial will be held at Kankakee Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Aroma Park Township at 10am on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Friends and family will gather in celebration of Hermina at the Aroma Park Boat Club in Aroma Park Township following the ceremony.