WHITE, Donald Alfred - After a long, rich, consequential life, Don passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in the veteran’s wing of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, December 2, 2020.
Born on the homestead in 1926, Don grew up on the Prairies with his parents, Harry and Jennie (Anderson) and younger brother Clinton.
His early life was one responsibility and duty; attending school, assisting on the farm and trapping. Don began working for the CN Railroad in 1943 and suspended his job in 1944 to volunteer and serve in the Infantry in the Canadian Army during World War II.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the military in 1946, Don returned to his career with CN and soon moved to Churchill, Manitoba in 1949. It was in Churchill where he met the love of his life, Mary.
To quote Don, “Standing on the snow in Churchill, Manitoba, under a brilliant full moon and dancing Northern Lights, Mary’s face was lit with the most beautiful smile. I thought I would never find a more perfect place, so I asked her to marry me and she readily accepted.”
Don and Mary wed January 16, 1951. They went on to raise seven children and remained in Churchill until 1971 when Don transferred to The Pas, Manitoba. After 4 years in The Pas, he transferred to Saskatoon and retired as Manager, Carload Center, with CN Railroad in 1982.
He was very proud when he received his Metis status and enjoyed tracing his father’s lineage back to his Metis and Scottish roots in Canada.Mary passed away from cancer in 2006 and her passing left a giant gap in his life.
Don kept moving forward, and in 2011, at the age of 85, he moved to Toronto and started a new chapter.
Don was predeceased by his wife Mary (2006), daughters Valerie (2011) and Kathryn (2019) and grandson Austin (2020).
He is survived by his brother Clinton of Regina (Saskatchewan), loving children Bud (Sandra) of Penticton, Robert (Bonnie) of The Pas, Dennis of Vancouver, Maureen (Bruce) of St. Bruno, Susan (Greg) of Toronto, 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Don was a son, brother, soldier, railroader, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, genealogist, furniture restorer, adventurer, humorist and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Sunnybrook Veteran’s Center for caring for Don in his final days. Special thanks to Joanna Karla DeLeon who helped care for, and was a constant companion to, Don is his later years, and to his grandson Austin White who spent 4 weeks nursing him back to health in 2017.
A celebration of life will be held in Saskatchewan in the summer of 2021.
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