Obituary of Mary White

Obituary Obituary of Mary Charlotte WhiteAugust 14,1918-0ctober29,2007It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mary Charlotte White (neeMarshall) on Monday, October 29, 2007 at the age of 89. Beloved mother toMaureen Simmons and Linda White, nurturing soul to sons-in-law Gary Simmons andSteven Bernstein, devoted grandmother to Bryan, Katherine, and Brenden Simmons,and adoring admirer of granddaughters Alexandra and Geneva Bernstein, she will bedeeply missed.Born on 14 August 1918, Mary's life took her from Omagh, Northern Ireland,to Gary, Indiana, to live with her brother William and family and then on to FortSt. John, B.C., where she settled with her husband, Lawrence White, to do whatshe did best: be a wife and mother.Known amongst her children's friends as the Mom who was the expert bakerof chocolate chip cookies and who had a garden to envy, she workedtirelessly as a farmer, wife, and mother until her diagnosis and treatmentfor colon cancer in 1999. She resided in the North Peace Care Home from2001 until her passing, delighting nurses with her shy smile, liltingIrish accent and steely will.Mary taught her children the importance of caring for others through herown tireless devotion to her family, and through her thoughtfulness towardothers. As one small example, every fall she would cook up batches ofcarrots to take to the United Church's harvest supper, and would alwaysrespond to requests to help in community fundraising drives.Not one for adventure, she was content to remain at home to care for her familyand tend to her pets - from Boxer dogs in the early years to St. Bernards in thelater -and an array of cats, not to mention the farm animals. While she did nottravel back to Ireland after her emigration, every year at Christmas timeshe sent packages filled with gifts for her sisters' children andgrandchildren, her sisterly bond never severed. She was predeceased by her threesisters Kathleen, Sadie and Jeannie and two brothers, Jack and William.A memorial service was held at Hamre's Funeral Chapel 9 November 2007, withinternment at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made tothe Peace Lutheran Care Centre Foundation, 9907-110th Avenue, Fort St. John,B.C., V1J 259, or to the Canadian Cancer Society.The families of Maureen Simmons and Linda White would like to thank Dr. Watt andthe North Peace Care Centre staff for their excellent care and consideration ofMary over the past six years. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Mary White