Deborah Ann White

Old Orchard Beach

Deborah Ann White, 68, of Old Orchard Beach, passed away early Saturday morning, January 13, 2024, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after a courageous battle with cancer.

Deborah was born in Jackman, Maine on July 6, 1955, a daughter of Alfred and Marylin (Spaulding) White.  She grew up in Rockwood with her nine siblings and learned the value of hard work and the meaning of family. Debbie attended a one-room school house until the 4th grade. She excelled in academics earning Valedictorian honors when graduating from Greenville High School in 1972. She then went on to earn her Associates in Business from Casco Bay College in Portland. After living in Portland for a few years Debbie relocated to Windham where she raised her daughter Christina. Later Debbie moved to Saco for a short time, and finally settled in Old Orchard Beach where she made many lasting friendships and fellowships.

She had many accomplishments, one of the most significant was raising her daughter as a single mother.  Debbie was extremely proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments.  She would always tell you about their latest adventures.

Debbie was employed with Burns Fencing Company as their office manager for over 35 years.  She was part of the Leveque family and they were certainly a part of hers. She retired in June of 2023.

There were many things that Debbie enjoyed doing in her pastime, but some of the more notable ones were sewing, quilting, taking road trips, and traveling overseas with her mom and the girls.  One of her favorite trips was when she got to visit the Vatican in Rome.  Dear to her heart was her Saturday morning church group called "Women of GSP (Good Shepherd Parish)" where Debbie and several other women would gather weekly for prayer, learning, support and conversation.

Being a very caring person Debbie would always check in to see how everyone else was doing, regardless of what was going on with her own health issues.  It would be impossible to list the number of people that touched Debbie or that she touched. She was a believer in being forthright with her view and opinions, always willing to have an intelligent conversation with people who she disagreed with.  The family appreciates all the prayers and thoughts from everyone…we know Debbie felt them. She will be sadly missed by many. One of her last acts was to squeeze the hand of her mother and daughter to let them know she was okay.

Deborah was predeceased by her father Alfred White, her sister Audrey Perkins, and sister Ilene White.

She is survived by her mother Marylin White, her daughter Christina Hodge, and her grandchildren Kiara and Anthony.  She is also survived by eight siblings: Alfred White, Ruth Stevens and husband Lyle, Rowena Burstein and husband Sanders, Donna Roelofs and husband Chris, Anna Begin and husband Mike, Kathy Begin and husband Clarence, James White and wife Maureen, and Rodney White and partner Patti Freda, as well as by many, many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at Most Holy Trinity Church in Saco.  Burial will take place in the spring in St. Joseph Cemetery, Rockwood, ME.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Deborah's name to the Ester Residence (Women helping Women) 27 Thornton Avenue, Saco 04072, or to the Saco Food Pantry, 67 Ocean Park Road, Saco 04072