Mildred Mary (Hargreaves) White

Grantham, NH.  Mildred Mary White, 93, passed away at home on November 30, 2017, following a long period of failing health.

Mildred was born October 30, 1924 in Birmingham, England, the 5th child of Harold and Ada Hargreaves.   Although she was an extremely bright student she left school early to begin work and in the early years worked in the post office and for a jeweler.  She loved to ice skate and to dance, receiving certificates in ballet and becoming a Keep Fit Instructor in her early years.
In September of 1941 she met her husband to be, Philip Henry White, at the local ice skating rink.  The two enjoyed a long courtship, cycling all about England as part of Phil's cycling club, and were married on December 22, 1945.  Mildred retired from work when her first child was born in 1948 and welcomed a second daughter in 1953.  
The couple immigrated to the United States in 1957 and settled in Claremont with a brief interlude in Windsor, Vermont and Rhode Island.  They returned to Claremont in 1959 and made their home there for the next 30 years until they retired to Eastman in Grantham about 27 years ago.
Mildred was an extremely warm and caring person who spent her life in service to others.  She was actively involved with the Brownies & the Girl Scouts, and volunteered at the Methodist Church and the hospital.  She took a group of young girls to the New York World's Fair in 1965,  having taught them the fancy rope skipping exercises she had taught in England.   In the 1960s she became a member of the order of the Eastern Star and was a Mother Advisor to the Rainbow Girls and an enormous invaluable support to her husband Philip as he traveled extensively in his leadership role in the statewide order of the Masons.  Also in the 1960's she returned briefly to work, holding a sales position at Grants in Claremont, where she formed many  lasting friendships.
Wherever she was, and throughout her life, she formed strong friendships and was always ready to lend a caring hand wherever she saw it was needed.  She will also be remembered for her sense of humor and wit which remained strong right up until the end of her life.
Mildred loved to cook, was a talented crafter who enjoyed knitting and sewing many articles for her loved ones, and in her later years made many beautiful quilts.  She also enjoyed taking care of her many orchids and creating a warm and beautiful home for the family she loved so deeply.  She and Phil enjoyed traveling, visiting Europe and England as well as Australia and New Zealand, and many parts of the United States and Canada.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Ada Hargreaves and by her brothers Ronald, Harold, John, Eric, Fred and Donald and by her sister Joan.  She is survived by her husband Philip White and by her daughters, Pamela Schurman of Boulder, Colorado and Diane Federman who lives in Sydney Australia with her husband Edward Federman, with Mildred's grandchildren Benjamin and Rebecca and one great grandchild, Ella.  She is also survived by her brother Roland and sister Olive, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in England, Australia and Canada.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation to the Lake Sunapee VNA and Hospice for their kind and sensitive support during Mildred's last several years and especially during her last days.  We also want to acknowledge and thank her two primary caregivers who helped make it possible for Mildred to spend her last years at home.

A private celebration of Mildred's life will take place at the Newton-Bartlett funeral  home at the family's convenience.  In lieu of flowers we request people make a donation to the charity of their choice in Mildred's name.

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