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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: White, Marie Arlene

Age 86

WHITE, Marie Arlene (Age 86) Marie was born on September 21, 1927 in New York, New York to Thomas Salvia and Lucy Gregorio.

She passed away on September 21, 2013 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.

Marie grew up in Rahway, New Jersey.

At age 14 she got her first job at a local Five and Dime store.

Years later, on August 14, 1945, Marie jumped on a commuter train with friends and joined thousands of other proud Americans to celebrate “V-J Day” (the end of World War II) in New York City’s Times Square.

Marie graduated from Rahway High School where she had been a cheerleader.

She loved spending her summers at the Jersey Shore.

Her other, greater love was George “Gillie” White.

They both had a passion for dancing and would travel to New York to dance to the tunes of Big Band greats performing live.

On September 4, 1949, Gil and Marie married.

Marie and Gil received a letter from high school friends about education opportunities in Oregon for Gil under the GI Bill.

With a sense of adventure, they packed up their ‘37 Chevy Coupe and drove the unfamiliar three thousand miles to La Grande, Oregon.

Gil attended school at Eastern Oregon College; Marie landed a job as a legal secretary.

In 1950, their first child, Debbie, was born.

After graduation, a job opportunity lead them to Burbank, Washington.

They rented a little house in Kennewick.

Gil taught school and coached; Marie became a legal secretary for a group of attorneys.

In 1958, their second child, George Thomas, was born.

Marie spent the remainder of her professional career in the legal field.

She worked for prominent attorneys, a Superior Court Judge and then eventually was hired as the Police Court Clerk of Pasco, Washington.

In 1982, when both had retired, Gil and Marie moved to Spokane to be near their grandchildren.

Marie volunteered with the Pope John Volunteers at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church.

For fun, Marie enjoyed trips to Vegas and Reno and she loved to shop, but what made her most happy was to be with family.

She had a goal to live long enough to see her granddaughter marry and was able to attend the blessed event in July of this year.

Marie is survived by George Gilbert White, her husband of 64 years; sister Joan Salvia of Dennis, MA; brother Thomas Salvia and his wife Maureen of Brick, NJ; daughter Deb Moore and her husband Dave, Spokane; son George T. White, Kennewick; grandchildren, Christopher T. Patterson and his wife Felisha, Joseph D. Patterson, Mary E. Lefkowski and her husband Tim- all of Spokane; Michael A. Patterson, Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Angela Fraga and Anthony White, both of Pasco; great-grandchildren Aiden and Sidney, Spokane.

The family is especially grateful to neighbors and friends for years of love and concern; to Kenda and Ryan Bishop of Legacy Gardens of Spokane and their team of loving caregivers who tenderly attended to Marie for the last four months of her life; to her personal physician Dr. Brian Seppi and to the Sacred Heart Hospital doctors and nurses, especially Kristy, for their kindness and compassion the last few days of Marie’s life.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Lucy Salvia, Rahway, NJ.

A Celebration of Marie’s life will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at Heritage Funeral Home.

Father Bob McNeese, rector of Bishop White Seminary will be officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities.