Dorothy J. White

Dorothy J. White, 96, a longtime resident of Northbrook, Ill., Clarks Summit and Lake Winola, Pa., and Indialantic, Fla., died peacefully in Lombard, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 25.

She graduated from Central High School in Scranton, Pa., and Keystone Junior College, and earned her registered nurse diploma at West Side Hospital in Scranton. She was a visiting nurse and did private-duty nursing for many years in the Scranton area. She was also a staff nurse at the polio hospital in Harrisburg, Pa., and a school nurse in Northbrook, Ill., for more than 20 years.

She was born March 26, 1916, in Scranton, Pa., and was the daughter of John T. and Dorothy Jones, who emigrated from Wales in 1911. Her father was a well-known Welsh tenor, who sang in churches and performed oratorios throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Dorothy was the widow of Roger N. White, who died in 2004. Married for 63 years, they were the parents of four surviving children, Craig White (Mary Ellen) of Mahwah, N.J.; Suzanne Yeager (Jesse) of St. Paul, Minn.; Barbara Pierce of Kirkwood, Mo.; and Judith Kinn (Michael) of Glen Ellyn, Ill. Dorothy is also survived by nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Catherine J. Hammerman of Clarks Summit, Pa. Her brother, C. Henry Jones, M.D., was a well-known ophthalmologist in Scranton who died in 1991. Six nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews, also survive her.

Roger and Dorothy were very active in their communities and well-known for generous volunteer and financial contributions to many nonprofit organizations, including the Rotary Club, their churches, including the United Baptist Church of Scranton, Keystone College, Pennsylvania State University and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

They were devoted to their family and loved to visit with their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. They traveled extensively through Roger's service in the Navy during World War II and his time as executive director of the Illinois State Medical Society. They enjoyed gatherings with friends and family in Florida and their home on Lake Winola, Pa.

During the last few years of her life, she resided at Beacon Hill Health Center in Lombard, Ill. The family would like to thank the staff at Beacon Hill for its kindness and is grateful for the services provided by Peace Hospice.

A memorial service for Dorothy will be held at held at noon Saturday at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, Clarks Summit.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. The family requests memorials in Dorothy's name be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New York Chapter, 432 Park Ave., South, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10016 or via the chapter's website at www.jdrf.org/nyc.