In Memory: Sarah “Sally” Saunders White
Sadly, cousin Sally passed away on May 27, 2013 at age 71. She was the oldest of eight children, mother of three, and the loving wife of Marvin White. Below is her obituary and some photos of Sally provided by her daughter Michael-Ann. The photos are testament to Sally’s physical beauty and the obituary and Michael-Ann’s comments confirm her inner beauty.
From Michael-Ann:
My darling mother passed away Monday ~ she was in my arms…I told her that she was better than good, that she was the best ~ I told her that she was the love of my life, …and that she was not alone, that I was there for her,….. and I stroked her hair and kissed her sweet face and told her it was okay to go…and I asked her to kiss our Marvin for me…and she took one last breath…and she was gone … and in those quite moments alone with her there~ the silence screamed – the earth beneath my feet shifted and the air was so still that it felt as though time had stopped ~ and in that deep and lonely moment – I could feel my heart break…
I Love love love her~ stronger than any woman I have ever met ~ Smiled 1st thing in the morninG EVERy Day of my life xo And I would have been friends with her even if she wasn’t my mother~ true true ….
How lucky I was….What a beauty and the inside was even more spectacular** *
Obituary- StarLedger June 2, 2013
“Sarah S. White (Sarah Suzanne Saunders) originally from North Caldwell passed away in her home Monday May 27th. Spectacular & Sensation Sarah was a horsewoman, sister, mother, wife, and a world traveler extraordinaire. She lit up this life and will be forever loved by all of us. She met and married the greatest man we ever met, Marvelous Marvin White and their love changed our lives forever. “Sally” leaves behind three children, Dennis Howley, Michael-Ann Howley & Colleen Wilson. Her light remains bright in the hearts of her 2 grandchildren Cardie Wilson and Dottie Lux. Her darling siblings Colleen Convery, Kerby Saunders, Jack Saunders, Wondy Duff & Carleton Saunders will all miss her deeply and she loved them all so very much. She touched too her wonderfulniece’s and nephews and cousins. We adored and admired her magnificent spirit and will miss her eternally xo”
Adorable Sally in 1942
Sally 3 years old
Sally with (left to right) Kerby, Greg, Cardie, and George.
Equestrian competition at age 17.
Debutante Ball age 18 in 1960
At the lake in 1961 while holding son Dennis with brother Kerby steering
Passport photo at age 24
Another passport photo before moving to Lebanon in 1972 (Who looks so beautiful in passport photos!!)
Sally with the love of her life, husband Marvin White at The Tree in LaJolla, Ca. in 1992
Kissing Marvin in Montvale NJ at their home… mom was BBQ-ing and Marvin had just come home from work (o: regular day- she adored him and he adored her (o: (Comments for this photos from Michael-Ann)
The last photo was taken in February this year 2013 mother is 71 years old~ Lick lick the cat (short for Licorice) was so much in love with my mom- Mother had been in a rehab for about 3 weeks and the cat was heartbroken- When mom finally came home Lick was incredibly loving and so happy to have her girl (mom) home again- it was a beautiful thing to see the love the cat had for her . Animals – and I mean ALL animals just fell in love with mom xo (comment for this photo from Michael-Ann)
First Communion: Renna Helen Russo, May 4, 2013
The last few months have been quite difficult for the Saunders and Mahony families. However, it is a pleasure to announce that on May 4, 2013, Renna Helen Russo, daughter of Ashley and Joe, received her First Holy Communion. Enjoy the photos below which mark this important and joyous occasion.
Beautiful Renna wearing the same dress her mother wore just a few years ago.
Proud parents, Ashley and Joe
Kerby and Lisa with Renna. (Alternate caption: Two beautiful young ladies and an elderly gentleman)
In Memory: Jeanne M. and George S. Saunders, Jr.
This website is just 6 months old but it represents family history going back well over 100 years. Without doubt the passing of Jeanne and George within two short months is one of the saddest chapters in our family’s story; this page has been established to honor these two remarkable people. The eulogies and remembrances offered by their children, family and friends during the funeral masses were touching, humorous, loving, and beautifully delivered. They paid tribute to two people who were generous in the community, successful in business, loyal to friends, and, most important, dedicated to their family. This page is dedicated to their memory. Comments can be offered below and additional photos, documents, and other important items can be added by forwarding to me and they will be posted immediately so please feel free to do so.
A lovely poem for Jeanne from her mother
A Eulogy for Jeanne from her great friend Patty O’Connor
Below is a letter written by George to his son Drew upon his eighth grad graduation
I wanted to share with all of you some advice my dad shared with me some years ago in a letter he wrote me following 8th grade graduation:
“…and there is the meaning of success, meaning when you give yourself to something, good things almost always happen. Tonight you should spend a little time thinking about God and the gifts that he has given you. How you use these gifts is entirely up to you. Its called free will and next to love its God’s great gift to all of us. We get to choose the kind of person we want to be. Not our parents or teachers or friends, but only ourselves.
We know that you will continue to choose to be a kind and giving person. You have an exciting life ahead of you with unlimited opportunities. Carpe Diem. We love you and can’t wait to see what the future brings you.”
Love Mom and Dad
I will make you proud Dad, you have taught me well.
Below is a beautiful poem by George’s daughter Bobbi
Below is Britt’s eulogy for her dad
Below is a letter from cousin Todd Mahony to the Saunders family recalling some fond memories and expressing his sadness at George’s passing.
Todd and George on Lake George.
Saunders family in 1955. Standing left to right: Greg, Cardie, Sally, George, Kerby. Seated: Jackie, Wondy, Colleen
The Cardie and Carole Saunders family Christmas card with an added bonus. That’s Carole in her cow suit celebrating at The Hunt in October. Notice the utters.
Front row: Kailee & Cardie V
Second row: Eileen, Sean, Sabrina, & Liza
Top row: Cardie IV, Gaga (Carole) , Grandpa (Cardie), Greg
Ashley Saunders Russo producer and host of The Peak. Below is an interview Ashley did on TV in the Allentown area along with an email to family with an update on the launch of her show. Very impressive to say the least!
Hi Family! Just wanted to give you a brief update on what’s been happening west of the Delaware …
THE PEAK finally officially launches this Sunday night at 630pm on WFMZ Channel 69…you can view it on www.ThePeakTV.com
There are a couple of really exciting new commercials and video projects up on our website I am excited to share…
www.firerockprod.com (OpenRoad car commercial, St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular commercial in particular)
This morning I did a segment on the morning show with my good friend Eve Tannery promoting the show – here is the link:
Tomorrow morning you can tune in LIVE via your computers to WLEVRadio.com to listen as I co-host the morning drive radio program (I hope I come up with something interesting to say in the next few hours!) from 5-830am…also to promote the show. You can call in to say hi at 610-720-1007
Thanks to all of you for your love and support! Please “like” The Peak Tv and FireRock Prod on FaceBook!! And I hope, if you haven’t had the chance, you can come visit the new studio soon.
xo-
Ash
Ashley Russo
Executive Producer
FireRock Productions, LLC
In memory for Gregory Saunders.
It was the summer of 1959 and I was playing in the back yard with various siblings and friends on a warm, sunny day. The phone rang and seconds later I heard my mother shriek in a way I had never heard before and would never hear again. We all knew something was very, very wrong. My parents went to their room; some time later my father came to the back yard to tell us there had been an awful accident. Cousin Greg had been shot and killed. Over the next few days my parents came and went to the wake and the funeral with a sadness that was palpable.
One summer Greg was dropped off at our house and we spent the afternoon together. We headed to the railroad tracks to place pennies on the tracks for the trains to flatten them. I enjoyed this but couldn’t help thinking that was once less piece of bubble gum available to us. We also enjoyed pelting the freight trains with rocks: good time and no loss of revenue. My memory of Greg was of a funny, confident, and friendly boy who despite being a couple years older treated me well. Like all his brothers he was handsome, but had curly blond hair in contrast to their darker looks.
As I write this I am fully aware that our family’s experience that summer was incidental compared to the grief and loss experienced by the Saunders family. But I wanted to take a moment to remember my cousin Greg and the fun we had that day so many years ago.
The following are letters written by Margaret Kaesemeyer Rugg, Grandma Saunders younger sister and George’s aunt, and George Saunders, Sr. The occassion was the unfortunate passing of George’s brother Cardie.
Photo of Margaret Kaesemeyer Rugg in her eighties. Her resemblance to her sister, Grandma Saunders) is remarkable.
The first is Aunt Magaret reaching out to George after hearing the news about Cardie.
The following is George’s response
Margaret’s reply
The following are two letters from Theodor Kaesemeyer. The first to his great grandson Dennis Mahony just a year after he was born in 1940. The second one is to his daughter Margaret on Mother’s Day 1944.
Photo of Theodor Kaesemeyer (author of the letters below) and wife Emma Coy Kaesemeyer in 1934.
The typed version.
This letter was written to daughter Margaret on Mother’s day 1944.
here is a typed version of the letter to Margaret
