Obituary of Mary White, New Waterford

It is with great sadness that we announce th passing of our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary White at the age of 101 years on October 7, 2024 at Victoria Haven Nursing Home, Glace Bay.

Mary was born in Durham County, England on April 19, 1923 to the late Ralph and Mary (Hawkins) Goundry. 

Mary met her Canadian Soldier, George Robert "Sonny" White during war times and they were married in England in 1943. Mary traveled to Canada on the ship, Luticia, as a young war bride with daughter, Dorothy, to begin her new life in Canada where she was a long-time resident of Scotchtown. Mary is the last surviving member of her immediated family. 

Surviving are her children, Dorothy (Phonie) Chiasson, Anita Bishop, Blaise (Susan) White, John White, Darlene, Debbie (Lorne) MacLellan, Michael (Beverly) White, Lydia Gunter, Gary White; grandchildren, Kevin (Christine) Chiasson and Debbie (Gary) Pearson, Annette (Will) MacKay, Weldon (Paula) Bishop and Sherri Bishop (Mark), Robert (Sarah) White and Michael (Liz) White, John (Lisa) MacDonald and Chad, Colin (Nicole) MacLellan and Lindsey (Christian) Fraser, Carol Ann (Robert) Van Dommelen and Nicole White (Lorne) Bonnar, Ryan (Tammy) Gunter, Adam White and Julia (Brendan); 23 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Mary is also survived by many nieces and nephews in England.

Mary was predeceased by husband, George Robert "Sonny" White; son, George Weldon White; son-in-law, Clifford Gunter; great-granddaughter, Morgan Darlene Bishop; father and mother-in-law, George and Vina (Fitzner) White; siblings, Lydia, George, Walter, Frank, Raymond, Elizabeth; half brothers and sisters, Hilda, Sarah, Billy, John, Ralph, Tommy, Hilda, Ada; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dorothy, Dora, Russell, Sen, Herbert "Punk", Lorraine "Sister", Wally, Billy, Irene and Ray.

It is almost impossible to sum up Mary's 100 plus years into a short paragraph. She will be greatly missed and remebered for her cooking and baking skills. Mary loved her Curran Street darts, Christmas Caroling, and Cheticamp trips. She was the "life of the party" and had a great sense of humour; always with a joke to share. Mary enjoyed her involvement with her Warbride friends and they shared many memories at their weekly luncheons, trips and parties. Mary worked at Breton Education Centre as a hall monitor and she was a member of the New Waterford Legion. She was also Secretary for the Scothtown Pensioners Club for many years. Mary enjoyed the New Waterford Homemakers coming to her apartment sharing their stories and she shared her stories with them. Mary spent the last years of her life at Victoria Haven Nursing Home where she participated in many activities and enjoyed her chats with all her caregivers. We would like to thank the staff for their exceptional care and for being so kind and caring; especially for all the "little extras" you did for our mother, like hair do's, ordering special items, etc. Mary had a very sharp mind right up until her passing, telling stories back when she grew up in England and also when she arrived in Canada. We have been fortunate to have loved and cared for our "Ma" for as many years as we had her with us.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. all in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. Father Godwin Obike officiating. A reception will follow in the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, River Ryan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victoria Haven Nursing Home, Glace Bay. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.