Obituary of Anna M. (O'Meara) White

Anna M. (O’Meara) White, of Peabody, died on Friday, December 29, 2006, at the Pilgrim Nursing Home. Born April 25, 1922, she was the youngest child of Jeremiah and Hannah (Foley) O’Meara. She was the wife of the late Philip White who died in 1997 after 46 years of marriage. Mrs. White is survived by her eight children: William F. White of Sugar Hill, NH; Ellen M. White Burrell of Peabody; Kevin J. White and his wife Ellen (Dionne) of Salem; Anne J. White of Wellfleet; Clare F. Campbell and her husband Bruce of Peabody; Paul D. White of Saugus; Maria C. White of Rochester, NY; and Margaret R. White of Peabody. She also leaves ten grandchildren: Julie Burrell of Morgantown, WV; Brendan Burrell and Maureen “Missy” Burrell, both of Peabody; Aidan Lucia, Cowan White, Erin White Bertone and her husband Kyle Bertone, and Kathryn White, all of Salem; and Elizabeth, Katherine and Anna Campbell of Peabody; as well as one great-grandchild, Frank Johnson, of Salem. Mrs. White was predeceased by her siblings, James O’Meara, Helen O’Meara Greehy, J. Francis O’Meara, Charles O’Meara, and Catherine O’Meara. Anna attended St. John Elementary School and was a 1939 graduate of Peabody High School where she was coeditor of the school magazine and yearbook . During the early 1940s, she was a novice with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Pennsylvania. Upon returning to Peabody, Anna began employment as a bookkeeper. After her marriage in 1951, she changed her career to that of wife and mother. Later, Mrs. White worked again for many years as a bookkeeper. Upon retirement, she taught English as a Second Language, and enjoyed crossword puzzles and calligraphy. A devout Catholic, Mrs. White was a communicant at St. John the Baptist for many years, and played an active role in the Catechumenate program. She also served for a number of years as a Eucharist Minister, and especially enjoyed bringing Holy Communion to elderly shut-ins. Mrs. White was always very proud of her Irish heritage, and enjoyed several trips to Ireland with family members. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 20 Church St., Peabody facility Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:00AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. John’s Church, Peabody at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020 (please write “in memory of Anna O’Meara White” on the memo line), or the Roger B. Trask Adult Day Health (at the Peabody Senior Center), 79 Central Street, Peabody, MA 01960.