Karen Marie White

WHITE, Karen Marie Karen Marie White, 95, of Manchester, widow of Edward A. White, died peacefully on Friday, (September 30, 2005) at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Born in East Hartford in 1909 as the 7th of eight children born to the late Eric Christian and Thea (Thorstensen) Willerup, she lived in the greater Hartford area all of her life, finally settling in Manchester with the purchase of her home in 1950-a home she was able to stay in until the end as she wished. In her youth, Mrs. White worked in a number of places including the cafeteria of Brown Thomson's (when it was a department store) and as a secretary at The Travelers until she married in 1929. She spent the depression and war years caring for her children and returned to work at the Travelers in the 1960's as part of a group of "retirees" who created punch cards for early computer systems. Mrs. White was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Manchester, and was very active in the Ladies Guild knitting blankets and clothes for underprivileged children and babies until this past year. She was an avid card player and enjoyed many an evening playing with her siblings and their spouses and as they passed, with her children and grandchildren. Mrs. White was predeceased by her husband, Edward A. White, and her son, Robert D. White, as well as all of her siblings and their spouses. She was the last of her generation. She is survived by her eldest son, Edward L. White of Manchester and her two daughters, Carol W. Lord of East Hartford and Thea K. Ling and her husband Steven of Middletown, as well as twelve grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and her dear friend Kamy Missaghi of California. Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 41 Park St., Manchester. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford. Calling hours will be Monday, Oct. 3rd 7-9 p.m. and Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Book of Remembrance, 41 Park St., Manchester, CT 06040.