Obituary of Priscilla White

Priscilla Jane (Brooks) white, a resident of Burlington for many years, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center on Tuesday evening, September 21, 2010. Priscilla was born, raised and educated in Watertown. She was the daughter of the late Clifford and Gladys Brooks, beloved wife to the late Gerald L. White, mother, grandmother, and a loving companion. She was a strong, selfless woman who always made sure her family was taken care of. Her family remembers her best for her sense of humor, her wisdom and her generosity. She was our glue. Pat was an avid gardener who planted many seeds, not only in the ground but within her children and the people she met. She enjoyed traveling, camping, baking and spending time with her grandchildren. She worked many years as a receptionist, in the security department of the Mitre Corporation, where she greeted everyone with a smile, joke, or her uncanny wit. Priscilla was a source of great strength and an admirable role model to her family. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Priscilla was the loving mother of Janice Archer of Burlington, Michele Paonessa & her husband Paul of Andover, Lawrence of Anacortes, WA, James White & his wife Geraldine of Billerica, Joyce Marchesini & her husband David of Bedford, Colleen Blanchard & her husband John of Troupsburg ,NY and Jacqueline Mulhern of Chelmsford. Loving companion of John McHardy of Burlington. Sister of Barbara Cashman of Cambridge, James Brooks of Arlington, and the late Paul Brooks. Also survived by 22 grandchildren & 3 great grandchildren. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Saturday, Sept 25 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers memorials in Priscilla’s name may be made to American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 Let me start off by saying how much our family truly thanks you for being here with us today. Our companion, our mother, our grandmother, our great grandmother, and our friend has quietly slipped away from the ties that bound her to us and she is beginning her next great adventure. My grandmother, also known as Pat, Mom, Grandma, Meme, or Miss Feisty would not want us to mourn today, but to celebrate the life she had. Grandma was a selfless woman who always made sure her family was taken care of. Everyone always had enough food, everyone had a gift at Christmas, everyone had a gift on their birthday, and none of us was ever forgotten. She was generous, compassionate, and fair to everyone. Campfires and sunsets were things she believed everyone should see at least once. She loved camping, gardening, traveling (especially going on cruises), and making people laugh. Her sense of humor is what we will miss the most. It was amazing how even in the gravest of situations, she could make us chuckle. In her last hours, our family was very fortunate to share an hour of smiles and laughter with her in the hospital. How is it that she was able to get us laughing when she knew soon enough that we would all be in tears? Her last words to us were how much she loved her family and we want her to know how much she was loved by us and how much she touched our lives. Grandma is the glue that holds our family together. Death did not scare her, she faced it with bravery as she did every adversity in her life. We often wondered if her shoulders were made of rock. My grandmother’s strength was inspiring and her courage was relentless. There is no woman like her. She forever will be our hero and she will never be forgotten. Although we must adjust to life without Grandma here, we take comfort in knowing that she is now in the arms of God and will forever be at peace. In closing we would like to share this prayer with you: Her Journey’s Just Begun Don’t think of her as gone away- Her journey’s just begun, - Life holds so many facets – - This earth is only one. - Just think of her as resting- From the sorrows and the tears- In a place of warmth and comfort- Where there are no days or years. - Think how she must be wishing- That we could know today- How nothing but our sadness- Can really pass away. - And think of her as living- In the hearts of those she touched…- For nothing loved is ever lost- And she was loved so much. -