OCALA, Fla. — It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Patricia Viner White, of Ocala, Fla., formerly of Middlebury, Vt. Patricia passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, at Brentwood at Fore Ranch with family by her side. She had celebrated Thanksgiving the previous week with most of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. We will be forever grateful for this last opportunity to celebrate “Grammy.”

She was born on April 30, 1939, in Worcester, Mass., to the late Walter Tennyson and Gladys (Robinson) Viner. She was an accomplished figure skater and considered turning professional before deciding to pursue a degree in nursing.

Patti married Paul F. White in 1959 and moved to an apple orchard in Shoreham, Vt., in 1966 with five preschoolers. Her tales of adjusting to farm life in rural Vermont were hilarious. She began her career as an operating room nurse at Porter Hospital in Middlebury and retired from there after 43 years. She was affectionately known as Grammy after the birth of her first grandson. Ten more followed and her eleven grandsons were her pride and joy. She couldn’t stop herself from showing everyone she met the numerous pictures of them she carried with her everywhere. She attended every football, lacrosse, soccer and basketball game she could.

Patti was an avid golfer, playing twice daily after retirement. She was known for making incredible cakes for all her grandsons and some lucky friends. Yearly pilgrimages to Cape Cod were a must. Being with her Boston relatives, playing cribbage on the beach and watching her boys make sandcastles and swim in the ocean were highlights of these trips. She loved to have big family gatherings, watch movies, read her books, knit and enjoy her wine!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beautiful son Paul F. White, her brother-in-law William Duggan, sister-in-law Nancy Duggan and nephew Paul Duggan.

Patricia leaves behind two daughters, Pamela (Walter) Robinson and their three children Zachary, Dillon (Jessi) and Austin, and Peg (Matthew) Pifer and their children Mathew (Brittany), Max, Aiden and William; her two sons, Peter (Anita) White and their children Nathan (Madolyn), Daniel, Benjamin and Jacob, and Patrick (Dana) White; three great-grandchildren, Miles and Violet Pifer and Olivia Robinson; her sister Pamela (Stan) Riggin and their children Jennifer and James; Kathy Carey, Bill Duggan and Elizabeth (Peter) Kelley; and many much-loved nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Arrangements have been made by Countryside Funeral Home. There will be a private graveside burial as well as a celebration of life to be held in August 2023 in Middlebury, Vt.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers at Brentwood and the amazing supportive people at Hospice.◊