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 adult life in So California; relocating to Colorado in 2015 to be closer to her daughter.

Dorothy Boehnlein was born April 16th, 1928 in Jackson, Michigan where she spent her childhood years. She had two older brothers Albert and Joe; both of whom served during World War II. Dorothy attended Jackson High School graduating in 1946. In addition to academics, she excelled in cheerleading and socializing, being voted as “most talkative” by her fellow senior classmates. She attended Mercy School of Nursing in Ann Arbor MI, graduating in 1949 as an RN. She was a staff nurse at Mercy Hospital and quickly became a clinical nursing instructor. Prior to her marriage, she spent a year in Colorado working at Army Fitzsimmons Hospital. 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 and relocated to Upland California in 1955 where they raised their five children. Dorothy practiced as an RN at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fontana CA from 1966 to 1985. Her expertise as an RN ranged from intensive care to pediatrics. At her retirement, she was given accolades by her nursing colleagues for her superb expertise and leadership skills. But throughout her life, her role as wife and mother remained her top priorities.

In addition to raising her five children, she was a devout Catholic and was active in her local parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Etiwanda CA. She was also a lifelong liberal Democrat and strong believer in Catholic Social Teaching from the early 1960s. Dorothy was an avid reader and consumer of news, politics and literature. After relocating to Colorado, she became a parishioner at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 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 White jr and his children Corey and Michelle White, her first daughter Maryann White and her children Stephen and Emily Eisman, her second daughter Ruth Ellen Barnes and her son Roger Tompkins, and her third daughter Laurentia Koulermos and her children Merelise, Anthony and Katherine Tantillo. In addition to her eight grandchildren, she has two great grandchildren. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews as well as many friends.

Dorothy was a woman who never knew a stranger. If one sat next to her on a plane, they would have a new friend. She had a terrific sense of humor, and her kindness knew no limits. She was wise and pragmatic. She would patiently listen to those who needed to talk without ever being judgemental. She was a loving mother, but never controlling. She exuded optimism for the future and never held ill feelings or regrets from the past. As she aged, she gained wisdom and clarity. She found joy and pleasures in simple things like a beautiful sky or a flower garden. She was tough and resilient when life threw her curveballs which were many. During her 98 years her family and friends learned from Dorothy what it 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.