Anne Lee (Knopf) White

Anne Lee White
At 8:14 PM on June 3rd 2024 Anne Lee White left our world and joined her beloved husband Dick in the comfort of the Lord. Anne Lee was born in Montclair, NJ, the firstborn daughter of Edward and Jane (Kennedy) Knopf. She was joined by her sisters Jane and Barbara at four-year intervals, and the family lived for many years in Patterson, NJ. Both of her parents were educators, and the family spent their summers at the beach on the northern Jersey Shore. It was there at the family home in Manasquan that Anne Lee learned how to body surf, a skill she would go on to teach her children and grandchildren. She was so good at body surfing that her children still tell stories of her out-surfing the locals at Laguna Beach in her '50's.

After graduation from College High in Montclair Anne Lee went north for college at the University of Vermont where she was the only woman in the Economics department to major in Industrial Management, graduating as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at UVM she was a member of the sorority Pi Beta Phi, spending a year as Vice President, and was a cheerleader for the football team. It was here, at UVM, that she met Richard (Dick) White, the man who would go on to become her husband of 57 years. Anne Lee and Dick remained loyal Catamounts, participating in the planning of many alumni events over the years.

After graduating in May 1958 Anne Lee and Dick were married on October 18, 1958, and moved to Southbridge, MA shortly thereafter to begin their post-college life. In Southbridge Dick became a junior manager at American Optical. Like so many women of the times Anne Lee found it difficult to find a job in her field. She became a second-grade teacher and worked until her children arrived in 1960 (Darrell), 1961 (Randall), 1962 (Tracey) and 1967 (Kerstin). Her early experiences as a teacher led her to remain in education. She served as a member of the Southbridge School Committee for many years and published a children's book with her dear friend and educational colleague Mary Puracchio.

During their years in Southbridge Anne Lee and Dick made dozens of close friends and stayed in touch with the majority for the rest of their lives. Dick took a job in Rhode Island and the family moved to Lincoln, RI in August 1975. While she devoted her energies to raising her children Anne Lee continued to be a passionate volunteer. As a leader in the Lincoln High School Booster Club she led efforts to build a new library and the first tennis courts ever on the campus of the High School. After her children graduated Anne Lee turned her energy toward supporting the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys and Girls Club from 1985 to 2020. Over the course of her 35-year tenure with the Boys and Girls Club she was Vice President and President of the Board of Trustees, and was the long-time Chair of the Endowment Committee. She was honored by the Club in a ceremony held on October 18, 2019 at her beloved Kirkbrae Country Club. And yet, all these wonderful things notwithstanding, what Anne Lee's family will remember is her role as the family's "Mary Poppins". Now known in the family as "Gram" she would "float" into each of her children's households and bring her special flare and care to her large flock of grandchildren. With "Gramp" in tow she was off to Ohio and Dan, Megan, and Randy, to Connecticut to see Darric and David, Matthew and Ryan, and New Hampshire to be with Timothy, Jennifer, and Nicholas. Anne Lee's life came full circle each summer during "Cape Week" when the entire family would gather on the Beach in West Dennis, MA, all together for a week of sun, sand, family, and body surfing lessons. And just like the carefully counted jellybeans each of her children found in their Easter baskets, the grandchildren were given the same massive helpings of ice cream from Sundae School and love from their Gram.

Anne Lee is predeceased by her beloved husband of 57 years Dick, and her parents Edward and Jane Knopf. She is survived by her sisters Jane MacDonald and Barbara (Bill) Edwards, and her children Darrell (Beth) White, Randall (Joanne) White, Tracey (Steven) Godin, and Kerstin (James) Winkler. She was adored by her 10 grandchildren Dan (Brittany) White, Megan (Ryan) Lanzel, Darric White, Timothy (Fiance Catherine) Godin, Randy (Tes) White, Jennifer (Fiancé Tyler) Godin, David White, Nicholas Godin, Matthew Winkler, and Ryan Winkler. Anne Lee also leaves behind great-grandchildren Landon, McKenna, Lila, Nathaniel, Lakelyn and Samantha White, and Dominic Von Mayhem.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Devon Oaks and Horizon Hospice in Westlake, Ohio for their kindness. Services will be held in Rhode Island.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 10, 2024 at 10:00 am in St. Ambrose Church 191 School Street, Albion. Burial will follow in St. Ambrose Cemetery. Friends and family are welcomed to join Anne Lee's family at Kirkbrae Country Club 197 Old River Road, Lincoln following the services.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island, PO Box 7505 Cumberland, RI 02864 (www.bgcnri.org).

Anne Lee loved to dance, and she loved chocolate. Legend has it that her favorite breakfast might have been a bowl of M&M's and milk. The next time you have a Hershey's bar or hear Chubby Checker singing "The Twist" join us all as we look skyward toward Anne Lee and Dick, together again and forever, feet in the sand and smiles on their faces, arm in arm dancing the Jitterbug.

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