Obituary of Kathleen Stuart White

Obituary for Kathleen Stuart White [nee Nixon]

1929-2025

Surrounded by love and family, Kathleen, age 95, passed away on April 13, 2025, at Nipissing

Manor Nursing Care Centre in Corbeil, ON.

Kathleen was born in New Liskeard, ON on November 15, 1929 to William and Ethel [Pigott]

Nixon. She attended St. Mildred’s College in Toronto before graduating from the Kingston

General Hospital School of Nursing. A galactic shift occurred on March 14, 1953, when

Kathleen married Bill White in North Bay, Ontario. Together with a growing family they moved

from New Liskeard, ON to Edmonton, AB to Goderich, ON, then ultimately back to New

Liskeard in 1970. With changing needs, in 2015 Mom and Dad moved into the Empire Living

Centre in North Bay before making her final move to Nipissing Manor in 2022 after Dad’s

passing in 2019.

Kathleen was one of those fortunate few people to find a vocation, motherhood, that was a

perfect fit. As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother her warmth and caring manner

never wavered, and all of us tested it along the way. In the presence of family, she glowed with

pride and joy that was always authentic and unconcealed. The strong conviction to family that

was imprinted on Kathleen by her parents remained strong throughout her lifetime. Most of us

feel that will be her legacy, in addition to instinctively knowing the correct way to load a

dishwasher. It needs to be stated, her attention to detail was unsurpassed.

Kind, committed, genteel and proper she was also comfortable being exuberant and cheeky.

Long friendships from various stages and places in Kathleen’s life spoke to her sincerity and

genuine nature. The White House and cottage were always open to extended family and

visitors who were treated to five-star hosting. Time spent in Texas and Florida expanded her

appeal to a broader circle.

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Bill White; her parents, William and

Ethel Nixon; in-laws, George and Muriel White; sisters Nonie Ketchum [Robert also

predeceased] and Peggy Gualtieri [Nino]; brother Dr. John Nixon [Mary]; sister-in-law Nancy

[Babe] Lefebvre [Ray also predeceased].

She is survived by her sister, Beth Bedrosian [George predeceased] of Guelph, ON; her two

daughters, Susan White of Punta Gorda, FL, Margot Despres and husband Armand of North

Bay, ON.; her two sons, Michael White of Calgary, AB., Nick White and wife Cindy Anderson of

Surrey, BC; her four grandchildren, Megan Sears and husband Jason of Astorville, ON, Adam

Despres and wife Cristina Senese of Toronto, ON, Chloe White of Victoria, BC and Riley White

of Edmonton, AB; her three great grandchildren Mya and Brynn Sears of Astorville, ON and

significantly, baby Remy Despres of Toronto, ON, whom she had the pleasure to meet on March

29, 2025; as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff and Doctors at Nipissing Manor Nursing

Care Centre for their attentive and compassionate care.

A time of gathering and remembrance will be held at a place and date to be determined.

Memorial donations can be made to the Temiskaming Hospital Foundation