Heather died peacefully at home with her husband Doug by her side. Heather was born in Halifax where her father was serving with the RCN. Following the war the family moved to Beaconsfield, PQ where they lived until Heather left home to teach in Rosemere and eventually to share accommodation with her lifelong friend Marg Stephenson (Cosh). Heather attended Beaconsfield High School and John Rennie High School. After high school she earned a teaching certificate at the MacDonald College campus of McGill University.
In 1966 Heather met her future husband when she and Marg went to Camp Valcartier to visit Marg’s brother. There, she met Doug, a young officer serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. They were engaged in February of 1967 and made it their Centennial Project to marry in July of that year.
The next 58 years were marvellous times of living in Germany, Aylmer PQ, Ottawa, Dartmouth NS and back to Ottawa (Orleans) as well as raising three wonderful sons and welcoming 6 grandchildren. During their lives in Orleans Heather worked at the Canada Trust bank for many years. Heather loved their travels together particularly the many trips they made all over Europe attending annual reunions of Doug’s 1987 class at the NATO Defence College in Rome. The highlight of their travels was the three months they stayed in Umbria to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2007. They returned to that cottage two more times.
Heather is survived by and missed very much by husband, Doug, son Stephen (Maxime Woods Gauthier), son Bryan (Maia Filar), son Andrew (Zoë Ritchford), grandchildren
Samarra, Ishani, Rishika, Finnegan, Tabitha and Samuel. She is also survived by brothers Frank White (Linda) and Alan White (Jo Ann). She will also be missed by her many friends in Orleans and Perth.
A small private family funeral was held on Friday, December 12 at Orleans United Church. Interment will be held at the National Military Cemetery. A celebration of life will be considered at a later time in Perth.
Very sincere thanks to Dr. Booth and nurses at the Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario, Kingston, as well as the marvellous staff in the Perth Medical Day Unit. Special thanks also to RN Kelli Moore and Dr Anil Kuchinad for their gentle, thoughtful care. Additional thanks to the wonderful friends who supported us during the four years of Heather’s journey.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, in memory of Heather would be appreciated for The Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario, Kingston, the Perth and District Memorial Hospital and The Table Community Food Centre, Perth.
Wait for me in the hills above Sant’ Arcangelo. I’ll find you there. We’ll walk the trails along the ridge as we used to do. We’ll come down to the cottage and bring dinner out to the belvedere among the olives. We’ll drink wine, revisit our adventures and once again watch the sun set over Lago Trasimeno.