Obituary of Barbara Ellen White

Barbara Ellen White peacefully passed away with her family at her bedside on Monday morning, December 5, 2016. She was 80 years old. Barbara was born in Cambridge the daughter of the late John and Mae Dixon. She had a wonderful childhood growing up in Cambridge. She was a 1953 graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. She went on to graduate from the Boston State Teachers College in 1957. She worked as a teacher until the birth of her children and chose to put her career aside to be a full time mother. Barbara was a Girl Scout Leader to all of her daughters and was awarded the Appreciation Pin -the second highest recognition award of Girl Scout adults. She worked for the CETA Program which helps individuals find employment. Barbara then went to work at Filene’s Basement in Burlington in the Cash Office. She loved the job and coworkers and remained with Filenes for 18 years until the doors final closing. To keep herself busy, she then worked at Roche Brothers in Burlington for 8 more years. She served as the Treasurer in the Grandview Condo Association for the past 9 years. Barbara will always be remembered as a very outgoing person who loved to laugh and make others laugh. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for someone he cared about. She was a loving, kind and caring person always willing to help others. People gravitated to Barbara because of her warm and welcoming persona. She had a great group of girlfriends whom she referred to as “The Ladies.” They loved getting together for coffee, lunch, or share in some activity. They always made a point to celebrate each other’s birthdays and different milestones. She loved going on family vacations to Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Florida. Barbara enjoyed vacationing in Bermuda and Aruba with Alan, her cousins, and friends. She loved to play Scrabble (a sport in the White home) with her children and grandchildren. The goal was to win against her, yet she remained the family champion! Barbara was an avid reader with a love for mystery and suspense. She enjoyed being a resident of Burlington for the past 53 years. She loved being active and social,. She always loved getting together with family, and embraced all of her grandchildren’s spouses and friends as her own. Barbara met her future husband, Alan, 64 years ago in Harvard Square. Alan knew at once, Barbara was the girl for him. They courted for 4 years before marrying in 1956. She has shared 60 years of marital bliss with her loving husband, Alan Burge White. Adored mother of three wonderful daughters, MaryJane “MJ” Murray & her husband Kevin of Attleboro, Barbara Jean “Barbs” White, and Allyson “AJ” Cronin & her husband Paul of Burlington. Sister of the late Evelyn Flynn, Lorraine & Jacqueline Dixon. She was a cherished grandmother of 7 by Douglas Murray & his wife Kiran, Keith Murray & his wife Yaso, Heather Murray & her husband Imran, Alexander Murray, Caitlin Murray and Jacob & Jeyana Cronin. Funeral services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Friday, Dec. 9 at 11:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805. (Please specify the Sophie Gordon Cancer Center.)