Marilyn Ann (Davis) White, 75, a devout Catholic and devoted mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 13, at her home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, sitting outside in the sunshine she loved.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Agatha (Walsh) Davis. Her husband was the late John Damian White, who passed away in 2012. A 1969 graduate of South Catholic High School, she also received a bachelor’s degree from Marywood University.
Prior to her retirement in 2016, Marilyn spent 22 years working for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, where she helped support patients and families across northeastern Pennsylvania during some of the hardest moments of their lives. It was work she cared about deeply, and it reflected the same warmth and compassion she gave so freely to everyone she loved.
Marilyn loved traveling, especially beach trips with her family, and could always be found with a good book in hand. She cheered proudly for her favorite sports teams, and never missed a grandchild's practice, game, dance recital, karate belt test, swim class, or theater performance. She was their biggest fan, always in the audience, always cheering the loudest.
Marilyn's Catholic faith was central to her life. She held a lifelong devotion to Saint Anne, patron saint of mothers and grandmothers, and her own namesake faithfully praying the Saint Anne novena throughout her life.
Marilyn is survived by two loving daughters, Brigid Peet and husband Michael, Evans, GA; and Maggie Darrow and husband Richard, Saint Johns, FL. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Lillian Peet, Liam Peet, and Charles Darrow, who called her "Nana" and adored her; two sisters, Jeanne Scott, Enola, PA, and Eileen Davis, Jacksonville, FL; two brothers, Thomas Davis, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Robert Davis and wife Diane, Saint Johns, FL; brother-in-law Dave Hatfield, Harrisburg, PA; sister-in-law Susan Kochis and husband Steve, Dunmore, PA; nieces and nephews; and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida, on Thursday, September 24, at 10:00 a.m. in the historic church building.
A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Monday, October 12, at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will be private, at the convenience of the family, at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Minooka section of Scranton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, 312 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, or online at cancernepa.org/donate.
