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)
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
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.
Uncle Cardie’s teaching contract Nutley HS 1943
This contract paid $2175 which is about $34,000 in todays dollars.
