Dorothy Marie White

Dorothy M. White of Longmont Colorado entered her eternal life on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at age 98. She lived most of her life in Southern California, relocating to Colorado in 2015 to be closer to her daughter. Dorothy (“Dotty”) Boehnlein was born April 16th, 1928 in Jackson Michigan, where she spent her childhood years. She was very close to her two older brothers, Albert and Joe, especially following the death of their mother in 1941, when Dotty was 13. Both brothers joined the military in 1942, and served during World War II. Dorothy attended Jackson High School, graduating in 1946. Academically she was a good student, but she excelled in cheerleading and socializing, being voted “most talkative” by her fellow senior classmates. Following high school, she attended Mercy School of Nursing in Ann Arbor MI, graduating in 1949. From 1949 to 1952, she worked in various capacities, including as a nursing instructor. One of those years was spent in Colorado where she worked at Army Fitzsimmons Hospital caring for soldiers who had contracted tuberculosis. She returned to Michigan in 1952, where she met her future husband Bill White. Bill and Dorothy were married December 27, 1952 in Muskegon, MI. They moved to Calif. in 1955 in search of sunshine and better job opportunities for Bill. In 1961, they bought their “dream house” in Etiwanda, where they raised their five children and lived for 52 years. Dorothy was an RN at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana CA from 1966 to 1985. She worked the night shift so she could be home with her kids during the day. At her retirement, she was praised by her nursing colleagues for her knowledge, expertise and leadership skills. But throughout her life, her role as wife and mother remained her top priorities. In addition to raising her children, Dorothy was an avid gardener and a voracious reader. She was a devout Catholic and was active in her local parish, Sacred Heart Church. She was also a lifelong Democrat and strong proponent of Catholic Social Teaching, which was flourishing in the early 1960s at the time of Vatican II. After moving to Colorado, she became a parishioner at St Francis of Assisi in Longmont. Dorothy was preceded by her husband Bill, who died in 2013, and her youngest son E.J., who died in 2019. She is survived by her son Bill jr and his children Corey and Michelle, her first daughter Maryann and her children Stephen and Emily, her second daughter Ruth Ellen and her son Roger, and her third daughter Laurentia and her children Merelise, Anthony and Katherine. In addition to her eight grandchildren, she had two great grandchildren. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews as well as many friends. Dorothy never knew a stranger. She could start a conversation with anyone, and had a terrific sense of humor. She was kind, empathetic, wise and pragmatic. She would listen patiently to those who needed to talk without being judgemental. She was a loving mother, but never controlling. She exuded optimism for the future and never held a grudge. She lived by the principle of “forgive and forget”. She was a bundle of energy, and remained physically active throughout her life. She was resilient when life threw her curveballs, which were many. As she grew older she found joy and pleasure in simple things like a beautiful sky, a flower garden, and eating chocolate. During her 98 years, her family and friends learned from Dorothy what it truly means to age gracefully.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St Francis Of Assisi, 3791 Pike Rd, Longmont, CO 80503, US, on April 30, 2026, at 10:00 AM followed by a reception. Dorothy's burial will be at Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W G St, Ontario, CA 91762 on May 6, 2026 at 10:30 AM.