Obituary of Theresa Mary White, Low Point

With a profound sense of loss, the children of Theresa Mary White (Campbell) announce their mother (Ma) passed away April 1, 2024, in Dartmouth. 

Theresa was born in 1930 in Victoria Mines (or Low Point as it is more affectionately known), Cape Breton, to the late Russell and Susan (White) Campbell. In addition to her parents, Theresa was predeceased by sisters Agnes, Dorothy, Alice Frances (infancy) and Susan Elizabeth (infancy) and by brothers Blaise, Donald, Aloysius, Russell, and Fraser.  She is survived by sisters Rita (late Joe) White, Evelyn (late Alex) Rankin and Bernadette (John) Luby and by brothers Michael (Marilyn), Bernard (Ann) and Hilary (Carmel).

Theresa was also predeceased by her husband Robert (Bob), her son Fraser (Jeanne) Summerside/Low Point and daughter-in-law Debbie (Colin) White, Low Point.  She is survived by daughters Susan (Jim) Vance, East Loon Lake; Anita (Chich) Ciuciura, Toronto, Ontario; and Doreen (Erik) Friis, Lawrencetown; by sons Morley, Dartmouth; Colin, Low Point, and Robert (Carolyn), Gagetown, New Brunswick; and by daughter-in-law Jeanne, Summerside.  She is also survived by grandchildren Erin, Carolyn, Christine, Matthew, Blair, Luke, and Jeffrey as well as great-grandchildren Caitlyn, Anni, Halie, and Kai.

Born into a large family, Theresa, as a young teenager, successfully took on the role of surrogate mother to her siblings when her own mother died shortly after giving birth to her last child. In 1949, Theresa married Robert (Bob) White and together they raised seven children. They lived on the shores of Sydney Harbour, next door to two of Bob’s brothers, who also each had seven children. The family was blessed with lots of first cousins and double first cousins.

Theresa and Bob’s home was a second one to, not only all those cousins, but the whole community. Each Christmas, after Midnight Mass at the old stone church, their place was filled until 3 or 4 a.m.  She was a loving, fun mother, but her boys often jokingly referred to her as “Terrible T” suggesting motherly love came with certain expectations!  She accepted daughters and sons-in-law as her own children.  Despite a busy household, Theresa had many interests, all reflecting her zest for life - she loved skating (with racer/speed skates), music, yoga, and the regular get-togethers for cards and lunch with the “Badgers Club”. 

After Bob’s passing in 1993, Theresa relocated to the Halifax area. She bought a place in Cole Harbour, near to family and friends, where she gardened, painted and turned her new house into a home. With the “Dartmouth Girls” she continued her skating and other get-togethers with friends. After many happy years there, Theresa decided to move to a Dartmouth waterfront condo with a spectacular view of Halifax Harbour. She became an observant monitor of the harbour traffic and once again turned a collection of rooms into a lovely home.  Her Christmas trees were always a wonder to behold. 

Theresa never turned down an opportunity to enjoy life. Travel included “out west” in 1978 touring around in an RV; Paris, London, and a tour around Scotland in 2002, the Dominican Republic for a family wedding, Barbados for her 80th birthday and many relaxing visits to the cottages: with Anita and Chich at Kushog Lake (Ontario) with the daily “happy hour”, with Susan and Jim at “The Lake” (East Loon Lake, NS) where she was always up early and outside to enjoy the pleasures of the lake and forest, and at the sea shore in PEI with Fraser and Jeanne. Family dinners - any excuse was good enough – included countless Sunday dinners at Doreen and Erik’s and wonderful meals and good times at Sandy and Ivan’s. The female cousins loved to organize regular girl’s weekends. Ma, along with her sister Dorothy, wouldn’t miss them. She greatly enjoyed assuming the role of a highland lass of noble birth at many Robbie Burns Nights. Having visited three Clan Campbell castles in Scotland, she strolled onto the grounds of Balmoral Castle as though she had finally arrived among her peers. Later, she seated herself on the throne at Stirling Castle as if it was there for her – and just maybe it was!

Always her own person, Theresa was, first and foremost, a devoted and nurturing mother. She loved family, life and was always game for anything. She will be terribly missed by all.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on April 26 from 4-7 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. The Funeral Service, officiated by Father Godwin Obike, will take place on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 11 a.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel followed by a reception in the funeral home reception centre. Burial will be in Saint Alphonsus cemetery, Victoria Mines.

Theresa’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate and dedicated staff at The Admiral in Dartmouth for their exceptional personal care and kindness towards both her and family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.