DORIS MAY WHITE (nee Little)
September 22, 1925 — February 9, 2014
Doris passed away peacefully at Nanaimo Hospital in her 88th year. She was born in Nanaimo the third of nine children and was raised in Port Alberni. There she met and married the love of her life, Bob, in 1946 and began her life adventure raising four children and following her restless man as he worked in Port Alberni, Alabama, and Vancouver. They retired in 1979 to Parksville and continued to travel to Palm Springs; Alabama to visit lifelong friends; the Maritimes where Peggy’s Cove was a favourite; Britain and Europe; Lincoln City on the Oregon coast; and north to Alaska. They also drove many miles on the Island faithfully visiting family and friends and continued to do so until her last week with us.
Doris was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She was predeceased by her daughter Robin Kosonen, son in-law Chris Rainey, and most of her brothers and sisters. She will be deeply missed by her husband Bob; children Lee Rainey, Glen (Anne) White, and Carol (Reg) Burton; son-in-law Pete Kosonen; grandchildren Richard (Sharon), Amanda (David), Elisa, Robyn (Mike), Bo (Alanna), Brett, David, and Sarah (Ian); great grandchildren Liam, Alex, Charlie, Cory, Justin, Mia, Keaton, Emma, Jenna and Ethan; great great grandchildren Haylie and Maria; brother Bill (Shirley); sisters-in-law Alice and Dolly, brother-in-law Ray Morris; many nieces and nephews; lifelong friends Mavis, Jean and Marge; and other good friends.
As an Island girl, she loved to swim and to be by the ocean. She enjoyed golfing with girlfriends, reading, was an excellent seamstress, and a talented bookkeeper. She was sweet tempered, patient, and considerate; put others ahead of herself; and she bore the infirmities of her later years with grace. Above all, she loved us, believed in us, and was always there for us.
A celebration of her life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to dementia research.