Mildred Whittingham

1922 - 2015

Mildred "Nan" Whittingham

Beacon - Mildred "Nan" Whittingham, nee Bottomley, of Providence RI, formerly of Beacon and Fishkill, NY, passed away on May 25, 2015 at the Phillip Hulitar In Patient Care Center, in Providence, following a lengthy illness. She moved to Rhode Island in 2014 to live with her son, Christopher R. Whittingham, and daughter-in-law, Jean Nicolazzo, and is survived by them and two grandchildren, Charlotte and Nicholas Whittingham, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was married to the late Robert Whittingham for 56 years.

She was born in Bridgewater, CT in 1922, and moved to Beacon, NY when she was a young child.

Since the 1930's, she was well-known for her devotion to working for the community. During the Second World War, she was on the Bundles for Britain committee in Beacon, chaired by her mother, Glenna Bottomley, sending needed goods to the UK. She served in the Red Cross during the War and was honored by President Truman for her work. She was a tireless volunteer at the Christ Church United Methodist, in Beacon, where she and her husband were members for many decades. While her son Christopher was in school in Beacon, she served as president of the junior and senior high school PTAs. In the late 1960s, she began to volunteer at the Neighborhood Service Organization, now the Community Service Organization, in Beacon, working with young people and low-income communities. She rose to become the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Service Organization. After her retirement in 1986, she became a member of its Board of Directors. She was instrumental in founding and organizing the Spirit of Beacon Day, for which she received the "Volunteer of the Year" Award in 1995. She was also active in The Beacon Concerned Citizens Group, the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, the Executive Committee of the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary, the United Way, the Beacon Sloop club, and other organizations. She received numerous awards for service to the community from the several Mayors of Beacon, the County Executive, several Governors, the Community Service Department of the Beacon Tabernacle Church, the community Service Award from the Hudson region of EDFWC, The Brotherhood of Beacon, and many others. She will be missed by the many whose lives she touched.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 1:30 pm at Christ United Methodist Church 60 Union St. Beacon, Reverend John Ceasar will officiate.

Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the directions of Jarett D. Quick of Libby Funeral Home, Inc. 55 Teller Ave. Beacon, NY 12508 (845) 831-0179.

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