Delrose Doreen White

Delrose Doreen White (nee Crawford), age 81, of Cleveland, overcame many challenges throughout her life, but on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, she succumbed to the health issues she'd been battling for some time.

Delrose was the cherished wife for 55 years of Dudley A.; devoted mother of William (deceased), Richard (Nichole), and Jennifer White; beloved grandmother of Joselyn, Zuri and Ezekiel; loving daughter of the late Ezekiel and Clarice (nee Reid) Crawford; dearest sister of Gloria Angela, Howard (Karen), and Andrew Crawford; and dear auntie to numerous nieces and nephews.

She was born in Knockpatrick, Manchester, Jamaica on August 3, 1944, and had lived there until she immigrated to the United States in April, 1969 under the sponsorship of Dr. Nassif. She had a strong work ethic, working in domestic jobs, including childcare, during the day, and furthering her education at night, training to earn her STNA certification. She put that certification to good use caring for the elderly in nursing homes for many years.

In 1970, she married Dudley White and they happily started a family together, but the desire to further her education to help others never left her. So, she returned to school, attending the Central School for Practical Nursing, graduating, and earning her license as an LPN. She chose to return to the places she had always felt she could do the most good in caring for others, nursing homes. Now, however, as an LPN, she could provide the more advanced care she had recognized was needed back when she'd worked as an STNA, but with the same passion and caring she'd shown throughout her life.

Though Delrose started her working life as a domestic engineer, she finished her career as a healthcare engineer!

She was a faithful, and the oldest, member of the Christ Church Congregation in Columbia Station, having followed that church community from its modest beginning in Parma. Regardless of the church's changing location resulting from its rapid growth, Delrose was a regular attendee for services until illness finally prevented her from being able to attend.

Delrose had interests outside of work and church as well. She was very skilled at crossword puzzles and was quite a good cook as too! She was particularly known for her roast pork with rice and peas, and her grandchildren said that no one made oatmeal and broccoli as good as hers, which is quite the compliment from children!

Delrose was a vibrant, outgoing, and funny lady with a burning desire to help others that she lived out not only in her work, but in the way she cared for her own family! She leaves behind many friends and relatives, as well as her "adopted family" including the Daramola, Benn, Downer and Campbell families!

She took a gamble in leaving her home in Jamaica, but with hard work and the love and support of her family and friends, it paid off beautifully in a lifetime of dedication to others for which Delrose will never be forgotten!

Visitation will be Saturday, January 17, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Busch Funeral Home, 4334 Pearl Rd., Cleveland OH 44109.

A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of the visitation at 12:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at West Park Cemetery, Cleveland.

216-741-7700 www.buschcares.com