A beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, she will be deeply and forever missed by one son; Larry (Donna)McLaughlin of Lawrence Station NB, two daughters; Devina (Morton) Cooke of Utopia and Katrina Lovett (Terry Weeks) of Porter’s Lake NS, special nephew, Donald (Beckey) Eastman of St. Stephen, son in law; CPO2 James Lovett of East Lawrencetown NS, her grandchildren; Diana, Christina, Stewart, Dustin, Christopher, Zachary, Jessica and Camryn, her cherished great grandchildren; Nathan, Makenzie, Liam, Mariah, Savannah and Dominic, brother in law; Stanford Young of Leonardville NB, nephew; MWO Earle Eastman, and nieces; Deborah, Sandra, Paula, Velma and Brenda. She will also be sadly missed by special cousins, Edith (Ken) Colson of Calais, ME and Rev. Phillip (Melba) Anderson. Besides her parents, Connie was predeceased by her sister Roberta Young and by her brother Ernest Eastman.
Before her illness, Connie worked at St. George Funeral home as a receptionist and bookkeeper. Her kindness and compassion touched many lives. She was a true giving spirit, which was reflected in the volunteer work she did for many organizations. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #40 and past President of Branch #40 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed all music but especially loved playing the piano and singing in the choir. Connie was known for her love of animals and was forever feeding a new stray. Her family was her lifeline and she never took for granted the moments she spent with them.
Resting at the St. George Funeral Home & Crematorium (755-3533) 26 Portage Street, St. George NB from where the service will be held on Monday at 2:00 pm with Pastor John Ledford officiating. Interment will follow at the St. Stephen Rural Cemetery. Visiting at the funeral home will be held on Saturday from 7-9 pm and on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A Legion Tribute Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 7:00 pm. In Connie’s memory donations to the Charlotte County Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family. (www.stgeorgefh.ca)
In the days since the death of former town councillor Connie White on Nov. 9, daughter and caregiver Davina Cooke has had plenty of time to reflect on the life of the compassionate volunteer, church organist and family woman who always found the good in everyone.
In fact, at times, the words of the "loving, caring and amazing woman" she calls her "hero" still echo in Cooke's ears.
"One time when I was just young and did something foolish," Cook recalled Wednesday, "my mother said, 'Always live your life in such a way that, if someone writes your obituary, that those words aren't false. That they can actually say good words about you and mean it.'
"And I believe that's the way she lived her life."
People are certainly having good things to say about White, who waged a courageous five-year-battle with cancer before dying peacefully at Cooke's home in Utopia, with family at her side. She was 64.
White was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Former St. George mayor Vance Craig, who served with White during her years (1987-95) on town council, and local funeral director Fred Brennan, with whom she worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper at the St. George Funeral Home from 1997 until she was diagnosed with cancer, both remember her as a caring and co- operative person who was good listener.
"She was a people person who had a great concern for her community," said Craig.
Friend and eulogist Melba Anderson of Oak Bay said White found her "niche in life" at the funeral home.
"She excelled (there)," she said. "She touched the lives of many people with her kindness, compassion and helpful ways . . . Connie's ways expressed, 'We care.' "
Born Constance Marie Eastman in St. Stephen on Sept. 7, 1943, she was a daughter of the late Mary Jane (Seeley) and A. Earle Eastman, the border town's longtime fire chief.
Besides Cooke, her survivors include a second daughter, Katrina Lovett of Porter's Lake, N.S., and son Larry McLaughlin of Lawrence Station; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren..
White was a 1961 graduate of St. Stephen High School and a 1972 graduate of the New Brunswick Community College, St. Andrews. She worked for Scotia bank in St. Stephen, St. George and St. Andrews, became a licensed insurance agent and set up her own bookkeeping/ income tax preparation business.
She was a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40 in St. George and former president of its Ladies Auxiliary, delivered Meals on Wheels and played the organ at St. Mark's Anglican Church in St. George and the Baptist Church in Baring, Me. She was also a lifelong lover of animals.
But Cooke says it was the "joy of family" that was paramount to her mother.
"In her final days, her words were that she was prepared to go, but she didn't want to leave her family."
| People: | Cooke, Davina |
| Author(s): | Mike Mullen |
| Section: | News |
| Publication title: | Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B.: Nov 22, 2007. pg. C.8 |
| Source type: | Newspaper |
| ISSN: | 19108001 |
| ProQuest document ID: | 1386785391 |