Nancy Antoinetta Ciampi White

Nancy A. White, 84 of Portland passed away peacefully Monday May 25, 2015 surrounded by the love and admiration of her family. Nancy was born October 28, 1930 in Portland to Michael and Marianna Ciampi. She grew up in Portland, attending local schools and graduated from Portland High School in 1948. Nancy worked at various places before beginning her career at New England Telephone in 1962 until she retired in September 1991.

Her love of dancing led her to meet John W. White, whom she would eventually fall in love with and marry on May 16, 1964. Together they raise five children and were happily married for 39 years. Nancy was a devoted wife and stayed lovingly by her husband’s side, especially during a long illness that would eventually lead to his passing on November 29, 2003. Nancy was also a loving, supportive and caring mother as well as grandmother to her eleven grandchildren. She devoted her life to them loving, worrying and caring about them all, right up to the time of her passing. Nancy loved to garden and knit; her yard is a beautiful display of this passion especially the grotto of Our Lady of Fatima and her blueberry bushes which were her grandchildren’s favorite. All her children and grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews benefitted from her talent with knitting needles. Coming from a large family of Italian decent, Nancy had a passion for cooking; she would often treat visitors upon entering her home with something delicious which she would prepare with little effort but much love.

Nancy was a devout Catholic and attended Saint Peters Catholic church in Portland her entire life. Her faith in God and devotion to family is something she not only preached but was something she also practiced right up until the last breath she took. It was amazing to witness the change in her facial expression when a clergy member entered the room – it was as if all the pain and suffering was masked by the amazing strength of her faith.

Nancy is predeceased by her husband John, her sisters Mary, Gilda, Jennie, Evelyn, Rose, Anna and brothers Vincenzo, Alfred and Louis. Nancy is survived by her sister Michelina Edridge and her husband Naval Captain Dave, as well as her children: daughter Karen Johnson and her husband Keith, daughter Teresa White, her son Bryan White and his wife Susan, son Michael White and wife Kimberly and daughter Rachael Becker and husband Lance, grandchildren Zasu, Zachery, Joshua, Lyndsie, Sean, Austin, Issaac, Nicholas, Ryan, Elijah and Altana.

Visiting hours will be from 4-7 on Thursday May 28th at Jones, Rich & Hutchins. Prayers will be recited at 9:00 a.m. Friday May 29th at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 72 Federal Street. Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. On-Line Condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all the medical staff at Maine Medical Center’s R5 for the love, care and compassion they showed during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Autism Society of Maine.