Eleanor “Ellie” Mae (Edwards) White of 75 Cove Point East, Charlestown, RI, died Saturday, August 9th with her family in attendance at The Westerly Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 72.
She was born November 15, 1930 in Mystic to the late Robert and Frieda Edwards. She graduated from Fitch High School in 1948 and she received her Nursing degree from the St. Francis School of Nursing in Hartford in 1951.
A homemaker for most of her life, Ellie brought energy and intellectual curiosity to her considerable list of interests. She was an appreciator of nature and its gifts and she educated herself (and others) on a wide variety of topics. Areas of interests included medicine, weather, antiques, coastal ecology, gardening, birds, horses/animals, interior design and historic crafts, among others. She also loved her family and delighted in her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Frederick White, formerly of Holbrook, MA whom she married on September 11, 1954. She also leaves 3 daughters, Jocelyn White Conforti of Rock Fall, CT, Julie White of Keene, NH, Jennifer Keane White M.D., of Brookline, MA, a son, Robert F. White Jr. of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; 4 grandchildren, Lindsey and Leslie Dorcus of Keene and William and Christopher White of Ocean Springs. She also leaves a sister, Delores Lallo of Westerly, RI a brother, James Edwards of Voluntown, CT, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Robert Edwards Jr.
Ellie’s family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic, on Tuesday from 5-8pm. Her funeral service will be on Wednesday at 1:30 at the funeral home with Fr. Thomas Hoar, Director of St. Edmunds Novitiate, officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Westerly Hospital Foundation, Wells St., Westerly RI 02891