WESTBROOK – Phyllis Dora (Gardiner) White, 92, of Westbrook, passed away on July 11, 2022 from vascular dementia.

She was born in Portland on August 19, 1929, the daughter of Cecil Rhodes Gardiner formerly of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada and Dora Pearl Gardiner (Crozier) formerly of Alma, New Brunswick, Canada.

She graduated from Deering High School in 1947. She then attended Colby College in Waterville for two years earning her associate’s degree. As a child and young adult, she spent summers at her grandparents’ house in New Brunswick, Canada and attended the Canadian Girls in Training Camp.

She worked for many years in education as a teacher’s aide for Hall Elementary School in Portland. She was known as “Mrs. White”. Most of her career was doing one-on-one sessions teaching students how to read and write. Out in public when asked how many children she had, she’d answer, “In the hundreds.” After a chuckle, she’d clarify she had four biological children. However, she considered her pupils her very own. The time with her students and the achievements they shared were priceless to her. One of the reasons she claimed she was short was because she was so proud of her children her chest stuck out real far. She needed to be low to the ground for balance.

She was a life member of Immanuel Baptist Church and the St. Andrew’s Society of Maine.

She was an involved member of various lodges including the Rebekahs (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Ivy, Woodbine, Eastern Star, Sebago, and the Ladies Auxiliary Patriarch Militant (a branch of the Rebekahs) where she earned the Declaration of Chivalry. She belonged to the Thistle Club. This is where she met her dear friend for almost 50 years, Margaret A. White. They just so happened to marry men with the last name “White.” When asked if they were sisters, they’d both answer, “Oh, we wish.”

She was proud of her Celtic heritage and attended the annual Maine Highland Games and Scottish Festival whenever she could, representing Clan Murray. Bagpipes, kilts and anything Scotland was a joy for her. Her hobbies were knitting, sewing, reading, road trips and she loved animals, especially cats. She was friendly, sociable, a lady, yet had a mischievous side to her. The older she got, the more playful she got.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend who lived by the motto “Family First”.

She was a staple at all of the birthday parties and family gatherings and attended her grandchildren’s various events such as dance recitals, band concerts, Boy Scout ceremonies, parades, and football games. When she was no longer able to host the family Thanksgiving, a new tradition began. She’d spend Thanksgiving evenings at her daughter’s house helping prepare dinner alongside her son-in-law, Jerry. A family favorite of hers was deviled eggs.

She is survived by her son, Bruce N. White of Westbrook and his wife “Angie” Hoa White (Pham), her daughter, Victoria E. White of Bridgton, her son, Edward S. White of Gorham and his wife Diane M. White (Johnson), her daughter, Heather C. Valliere (White) of Windham and her husband “Jerry” Erlon G. Valliere, Sr.; her grandson, Brian A. White of Portland, her granddaughter, Veronica N. V. Trufant (Valliere) of Westbrook and her husband Nicholas J. Trufant, her granddaughter, Sarah E. Deschenes (White) of Gray and her husband Christian P. Deschenes, her grandson, “Gerry Jr.” Erlon G. Valliere, Jr. of Lisbon Falls and his fiancé Alston A. Lybolt, her grandson, Connor A. White of Gorham, her grandson, Ethan C. White of Gorham, her grandson, Anderson L. Valliere of Windham; her great-granddaughter, Maia Phyllis Deschenes of Gray, her great-grandson, Elijah E. White of Old Orchard Beach; and various cousins; and extended family.

The family want to extend their gratitude to the Barron Center in Portland.

Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 25 at Dolby Blais Segee, 434 River Rd. in Windham, with a service to follow at 12 p.m. Burial will be at approximately 1 p.m. in section 14 of Woodlawn Cemetery, 380 Stroudwater St., Westbrook.

To leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.dolbyblaissegee.com.

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