Lillian White

Lillian A. White1928 – 2026

Lillian Arnold White died peacefully February 16, 2026. She was greatly loved by her three children, Nancy (Herbert “Andy”) Jackson, Janice Bright and Jack White; her three grandchildren, Natalie and Derek Jackson and Luke (Kristal)White. A great-grandchild, a boy, is expected to make his entrance into this world in May of this year. 

Lil was born April 21, 1928, the second child of Frieda (Junghaeni) and John (Hans) Arnold, German immigrants, in Buffalo, NY. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1946. On July 16, 1955, she married Stanley R. White, a native of Warren, PA and he preceded her in death on May 7, 2010.In addition to her husband Stan, she watched her older sister, Elsie, die at age 5, when Lil was only 4, from a bacterial infection – one which could certainly have been cured today. Also predeceasing her were her brothers, Robert, (Patricia) a policeman, who died from a bullet wound while on patrol; Richard, (Judith), one day before the 2001 attacks on NYC; John, (Beverly); a sister, Erna; two sisters-in-law, Carole (Wayne) Fitzgerald, and Kay (Paul) Darr. She is survived by a sister, Esther (Hank) Heppner; and a brother, Edward (Barb) Arnold, both of Buffalo, along with her brother-in-law, Craig (Cheryl) White, of Pittsburgh, PA, and numerous nieces and nephews. Before marrying, Lil worked as a secretary at several places in Buffalo. At one of them she met Stan, who was running a carpool for a group of people. It was in Buffalo where their three children were born. Stan worked for a company called Firewell, which was bought by ARO corp., based out of Bryan, Ohio. In 1968, the family moved to Bryan, where they lived for 16 years. Those were some of the happiest of her life. She met many friends and took up a new hobby, as a bridge player. When ARO was bought out by Todd Shipyards in 1984, Stan and Lil relocated back to Buffalo, where she found new bridge partners and was happy to be back among her mother and siblings. There she lived for the next 41 years, welcoming son Jack back home after Stan's death. Jack kept her company and was her caretaker until the end. 

As per her instructions, a private funeral was held with immediate family only. The Lombardo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.