Barbara F. White

Barbara F. White of Haddam, CT, and formerly of Richmond, VA, passed away on September 11, 2025 at the age of 89. Born on April 1, 1936 in New York City, she was the oldest child of the Honorable Thomas and Dorothy Farley. Barbara was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert J. White, in March of 2020.

Barbara dedicated her life to the field of nursing and began her impressive career in 1956 when she earned her R.N. diploma at Mass. General Hospital in Boston. Her first job was at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC and she was there until 1968. She then joined the crew of the USS Hope hospital ship where she spent a year in Sri Lanka. Barbara formed many wonderful and lasting friendships with her fellow Hope medical personnel which continued to this day.

She soon returned to Boston and worked as a nurse clinician, coordinator, and consultant with a focus on oncology and hematology at both Mass General and Beth Israel Hospitals. Always wanting to advance her knowledge, Barbara went on to obtain her B.S. Degree in Nursing from Salem State College and her Master of Nursing from Emory University. She became Head of Ambulatory Cancer Nursing Service at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD and later, Director of Nursing at the University of Maryland Cancer Center in Baltimore. Barbara’s education culminated when she received a post-graduate certificate in Health Systems Management from the Harvard School of Public Health.

In 1990, Barbara set down lasting roots in Richmond, VA as the Executive Director of Nursing at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). It was here in Richmond that Barbara met her dear husband, Bob. In 1998, she was co-recipient of the Health Care Administrator of the Year award from the Virginia Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care. At the time of her retirement, Barbara was Vice-President Patient Care Services,CNO-MCV/VCU. She also found great joy as a volunteer with Catholic Charities and at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Gift Shop.

Barbara was the oldest of 7 children and is survived by her brothers Tom Farley of Goldendale, WA and Mark Farley of New Bern, NC and her sisters Karen Van Dyke (Doug) of East Haddam, CT, Martha Nolan (Bob) of Eastham, MA, and Amy Farley of Bethel, CT and remained close with her sister-in-law, Joan Farley of Melbourne, Fla. She is also survived by her many loving nieces and nephews and her late husband’s children and their families. In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her sister Susan and her sister-in-law Linda (Mark).

Barbara will be remembered for her lifelong devotion to the care of others along with her strong Catholic faith. She loved to travel, attend Broadway shows, and always looked lovely whatever the occasion. She appreciated and enjoyed her many friendships and close relationships with her family no matter the distance. Barbara’s family would like to thank the staff of Commonwealth Senior Living in Haddam and Vitas Hospice for their years of care and support, especially Keisha Grant and the Safe Harbor Home Aides during Barbara’s final days.

A funeral mass will be Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11am at Christ the King Church located at 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, CT. Burial will be the following day at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Barbara Farley White Graduate Nursing Scholarship ℅ Lynn Meyer MPA, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980022, Richmond, VA 23298-0022 OR to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 823 Cathedral Place, Richmond, VA 23220