Obituary for Carol White (Smith)
Carol S. White, age 84, passed away peacefully in her home in Ellington on June 9, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was born Carol Jane Smith in Bridgeport, CT in 1937 to Walter Benjamin Smith and Louise Elma Smith.
Carol was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by her very large family. She had eleven children with her husband of forty one years, Charles (Chuck) B. White. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Prusak, her children: Charles White Jr. (Agnes), Cathleen Goebel (Peter), Christopher White (Laurie), Karen White, Clayton White (Andrea), Claudia White, Cynthia White (Tifani), Corianne White (Scott) Cheryl Andrews (Dean), Colleen White, Carleton White (Erin), and several nieces and nephews. She had 22 grandchildren whom she loved immensely and of whom she was very proud. They are Benjamin, Andrew, Philip, Hannah, Caleb, Charles, Geni, Jacki, Ian, Carly, Isabel, Gabriella, Kyle, Ryan, Colin, Asa, Jeffrey, Sofi, George, Anastasia, Lilah, and Olive. Carol was predeceased by Chuck, her parents, and two grandchildren, Philip Malilay White and Gabriella Reed-White.
As a young girl, Carol lived in Stratford and later in Huntington. She went to Southern CT State Teachers College (now Southern CT State University) and studied to be a teacher. It was here that she met the love of her life and future husband, Chuck. As part of her education she became an exchange student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to the birth of her children, Carol taught kindergarten and first grade. As her children grew, she returned to teaching briefly and then found her calling with her work as a home health aide. She also became devoted to the Lord’s work of helping those in need. She and Charles were among the founders of Cornerstone Foundation which includes the soup kitchen in Rockville, CT. Carol enjoyed her annual Christmas tradition of giving the gift of a built home (Happy Home) in Haiti for a family in need. She shared with her family how meaningful it was to be able to travel to Haiti as part of a mission with her church. Throughout her life, Carol continued to care for her tenth child, Colleen (Leeny), who has Down’s Syndrome. Carol was deeply devoted to her care and cherished taking Colleen to an annual retreat to Joni and Friends, a Christian camp for people with disabilities and their families.
Family and friends will remember Carol most for her gentle kindness, grateful nature, prayerfulness, and her profound faith. She loved selflessly and wholeheartedly. She appreciated life’s simple pleasures, such as her nightly tea and cookies, and conversations with her children and grandchildren. Carol also enjoyed watching UConn Women’s basketball and the Boston Red Sox with Chuck, and later with her children. Up until her last days, Carol watched Boston Red Sox games on the television. Her greatest devotion, besides her family, was her Christian faith and study of the Bible. Carol had a blessed life and has now found that eternal peace.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Kathy, Dorothy, and all the caregivers from Hospice and Aida from Caring Hands for their assistance in our mom’s care and comfort.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carol’s memory to Cornerstone Foundation P.O. Box 3, 15 Prospect Street, Vernon, CT 06066-9998 or Haitian Health Foundation, 97 Sherman Street, Norwich, CT 06360.
Calling hours will be Saturday, June 19th from 10am to noon at Burke-Fortin Funeral Home located at 76 Prospect Street in Rockville, CT. Funeral will be held the same day at 2pm at Ellington Wesleyan Church, 276 Crystal Lake Road in Ellington. Live Stream of the funeral can be accessed through the Ellington Wesleyan Church’s FaceBook page. A private burial will be held by the family. The family asks that all who attend the wake and funeral wear masks.
Carol was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by her very large family. She had eleven children with her husband of forty one years, Charles (Chuck) B. White. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Prusak, her children: Charles White Jr. (Agnes), Cathleen Goebel (Peter), Christopher White (Laurie), Karen White, Clayton White (Andrea), Claudia White, Cynthia White (Tifani), Corianne White (Scott) Cheryl Andrews (Dean), Colleen White, Carleton White (Erin), and several nieces and nephews. She had 22 grandchildren whom she loved immensely and of whom she was very proud. They are Benjamin, Andrew, Philip, Hannah, Caleb, Charles, Geni, Jacki, Ian, Carly, Isabel, Gabriella, Kyle, Ryan, Colin, Asa, Jeffrey, Sofi, George, Anastasia, Lilah, and Olive. Carol was predeceased by Chuck, her parents, and two grandchildren, Philip Malilay White and Gabriella Reed-White.
As a young girl, Carol lived in Stratford and later in Huntington. She went to Southern CT State Teachers College (now Southern CT State University) and studied to be a teacher. It was here that she met the love of her life and future husband, Chuck. As part of her education she became an exchange student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to the birth of her children, Carol taught kindergarten and first grade. As her children grew, she returned to teaching briefly and then found her calling with her work as a home health aide. She also became devoted to the Lord’s work of helping those in need. She and Charles were among the founders of Cornerstone Foundation which includes the soup kitchen in Rockville, CT. Carol enjoyed her annual Christmas tradition of giving the gift of a built home (Happy Home) in Haiti for a family in need. She shared with her family how meaningful it was to be able to travel to Haiti as part of a mission with her church. Throughout her life, Carol continued to care for her tenth child, Colleen (Leeny), who has Down’s Syndrome. Carol was deeply devoted to her care and cherished taking Colleen to an annual retreat to Joni and Friends, a Christian camp for people with disabilities and their families.
Family and friends will remember Carol most for her gentle kindness, grateful nature, prayerfulness, and her profound faith. She loved selflessly and wholeheartedly. She appreciated life’s simple pleasures, such as her nightly tea and cookies, and conversations with her children and grandchildren. Carol also enjoyed watching UConn Women’s basketball and the Boston Red Sox with Chuck, and later with her children. Up until her last days, Carol watched Boston Red Sox games on the television. Her greatest devotion, besides her family, was her Christian faith and study of the Bible. Carol had a blessed life and has now found that eternal peace.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Kathy, Dorothy, and all the caregivers from Hospice and Aida from Caring Hands for their assistance in our mom’s care and comfort.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carol’s memory to Cornerstone Foundation P.O. Box 3, 15 Prospect Street, Vernon, CT 06066-9998 or Haitian Health Foundation, 97 Sherman Street, Norwich, CT 06360.
Calling hours will be Saturday, June 19th from 10am to noon at Burke-Fortin Funeral Home located at 76 Prospect Street in Rockville, CT. Funeral will be held the same day at 2pm at Ellington Wesleyan Church, 276 Crystal Lake Road in Ellington. Live Stream of the funeral can be accessed through the Ellington Wesleyan Church’s FaceBook page. A private burial will be held by the family. The family asks that all who attend the wake and funeral wear masks.