KATHARINE "KITTY" WHITE

WHITE, Katharine Weeks Kitty arrived in this world in Augusta, Georgia, where her father, John Weeks, was training to serve in WWII. Her mother, Kitty (Katharine Claflin), was very much taken aback by her daughter's first words spoken with a strong southern drawl, so she quickly returned to Massachusetts. Kitty was a fun-loving, generous and kind person. She threw a great party and made it look easy. She hated mice and rats and suffered through living with them in the charming old houses she called home over the years in Needham, Dedham and Vineyard Haven. Wherever she went she made friends, whether it be poolside in Marco Island, reading to first graders in Tisbury or teaching Spanish at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham. She had an unusual childhood spending the winters at her beloved Soledad in Cienfuegos, Cuba and her summers sailing and playing tennis on Nantucket with some typical Belmont springs and falls mixed in. While at Connecticut College, she and her friends were erroneously taken into custody during a party at Brown and when they wouldn't give the police the information they wanted, the police threatened to charge them with interstate prostitution if they didn't spill the beans. The young ladies were not at all concerned and quietly played bridge throughout their brief incarceration. Her future husband, Ken White, mistook Kitty for a different pretty young woman at the wedding of a mutual friend and thus an almost 63-year relationship was launched. She met her future in-laws at a Yale crew race on the day JFK was assassinated (stressful day). She was the oldest of seven children and much relied upon for advice and perspective from all who knew her. Even strangers would pull up in front of her house on busy route 109, in Dedham, looking for help and Kitty was never one to turn away strangers in need. She was far more creative than she would give herself credit for and spent a lot of time knitting, painting, crocheting, flower arranging, doing needlepoint and especially gardening. Her gardens were extensive and it is a testament to her graciousness that even someone pulling out all the ground cover in a bed thinking they were weeds or cutting the stalk of a 100-year old climbing hydrangea on a moon-gate before a wedding would not elicit any harsh or angry words from her. Kitty's passion for Cuba translated into graduate coursework in Cuban and Central American Studies and a happy career as a Spanish teacher during the 80s and 90s. Hundreds of students learned from Senora Blanco and many were overjoyed to encounter her in airports across the world. A photo of Senora Blanco dressed as ET for Halloween was featured in the school newspaper and subsequently on the David Letterman Show during his "small town news" segment. Magically, she had long red nails that never seemed to break. She taught her children that no one invites you to dinner just to eat, so you'd better bring something to the table. Her number one rule was "above all else, be kind". She leaves behind her husband, Gordon (Ken) White, of Falmouth; her daughter, Katharine MacPhail and husband, Michael, of Fairhaven; and her son, Will White and wife, Susie, of Vineyard Haven; along with six siblings, countless family members and even more friends. She was Grammy to her five grandchildren, KC MacPhail and husband, Ray Bernoff, Becca MacPhail, Maggie MacPhail, Lulu White and Roxy White and made them all feel special and very loved. Her family will be holding a zoom Celebration of her Life, giving the opportunity for those far and wide to come together to remember her on Saturday, January 31, at 11 am. Please email macphailkat@gmail.com for the zoom link. Chapman Funerals and Cremations 475 Main St. Falmouth, MA 02540