Obituary of Loretta Pailile White
December 29, 2019
Loretta Pailile White
Born in Anahola, Kauai, Hawaii
May 8, 1933
Take a walk! Go for a swim! Dance the hula! Sing a song!
These are words Loretta lived by - always on the move, a social being, a remarkable woman…
Loretta joined the US Air Force straight out of high school then went to college after that, very industrious, even at a young age. She left a small town to join the armed forces, then moved to the big city with her husband, Dan. She knew right away that New York was where she belonged. Loretta had 3 children - daughter Missy, son Julian, and son Dylan. Three children and a full-time job at TWA where she made life long friends - Loretta was busy, always busy.
Since moving to New York she has always had her finger on the pulse of the city - at any time she could be found at a restaurant with friends during restaurant week, at a gallery opening, at a new play or at the opera whenever possible.
Recently Loretta found a passion for Origami and had a tight group of friends who she spent time with as well as volunteering at the Museum of Natural History. Origami brought her joy and become a big part of her life. She would teach at the museum as well as try to tackle new pieces, she loved a challenge.
A member of multiple Senior Centers in the area, Loretta treasured the friendships she cultivated over the years, and I know her friends treasured her.
A Mother, a Grandmother, a Great-Grandmother, and an Aunty - there are no words to express how much Loretta will be missed. She lives on in her family - Daughter Missy, Son Julian, Grandchildren Leilani, Rocco and Vince and Great-Grandchildren Donovan and Ivana. She touched us all deeply and she will remain in our hearts forevermore.
The White Family
Funeral Services
Visitation
January 3, 2020
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Greenwich Village Funeral Home
199 Bleecker Street
New York, 10012
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Loretta was an amazing woman. I knew her through the Hula Halau we belonged to. She was an elegant dancer, a cheerful person, and a wonderful human being. She will surely be missed by all who knew her. I send my sympathy to her family.
Posted by: Joan Charischak - Venice, FL - January 1, 2020
Loretta, i loko o ko"u pu"uwai. TWA 'ohana mau loa. May your entire ohana be comforted by the love you always shared with others and the many happy memories you left with your entire TWA ohana.
Aloha nui,
Deirdre Chai
Posted by: Deirdre Chai - Hicksville, NY - January 1, 2020
Loretta was a wonderful person and had a light to her that shined bright in any situation. We are so sorry to hear of her passing, she was a wonderful person and will be deeply missed. She was very involved in many of the classes, specifically singing and dancing. You would always see her dancing in any situation and party that the Greenwich House would have!
She will be missed so much, and remembered as a woman who was full of life and a wonderful friend.
Posted by: Laura Marceca - NYC, NY - January 2, 2020
I recall Loretta & Ohana attending our NY/Hawaiian community events...& we having a pleasant chat.
We were always inviting her to dance hula w/ our Gracious Ladies hula hui for Kupuna (seniors). Though our encounters were few bc of all our respective busy lives,
Loretta was a sistah whom we remember with Aloha.
Makana Pono,
Aunty Io Cabanos
Posted by: Io Cabanos - , - January 2, 2020
Posted by: Maria Llanos - , - January 2, 2020
Loretta was a wonderful volunteer for OrigamiUSA. She worked on the famous Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History. She taught origami in the museum at our public teaching tables and at museum events like Halloween. She came to the Bronx Zoo when we were working on breaking the record for the number of origami elephants. Loretta loved to share folding and was always willing to help out.
I often saw Loretta when she came into the OrigamiUSA office on Fridays to help with our membership processing. I was saddened to hear of her passing-- she was part of our community for so many years. Loretta will be deeply missed at OrigamiUSA.
Wendy Zeichner
OrigamiUSA President/CEO
Posted by: Wendy Zeichner - New York, NY - January 2, 2020
I am so grateful to have known Loretta. We worked together at TWA....would meet for lunches. I shared her love of origami and was so happy to see her at our TWA reunion at JFK this past fall. I have a photo that I will find and send to you at one of those lunches ... with a flower in her hair. I was so happy to have known her....
Such a big loss.... may the memories of her offer you a bit of comfort. My deepest sympathies.
Mary Lou Snow
Posted by: Mary Lou Snow - Boston, MA - January 2, 2020
Dinners and shows after work using TDF tickets for the shows. Talking about Missy living in Hawaii with Lelani and the joy she brought. And Julian passing law exams and Dylan and his friend Max and my children and grandchildren. Loretta was a very special person. She loved going to FIT and her hawaiian dancing. She found joy in just about everything she did. Loretta will be missed by everyone.
Posted by: Suzanne DeRose - Riverhead, NY - January 3, 2020
I was so sorry to hear about Loretta's passing. I have known her for many years and always enjoyed seeing her around the neighborhood and catching up. My mom Rose and Loretta volunteered together at P.S. 41 and always got along so well. I will always remember her kindness to my late mother when we lost my sister Roberta. Deepest condolences on the loss of such a special, gentle lady.
Posted by: Glenn Barbieri - new York, NY - January 3, 2020
Sorry for your loss. Loretta. Was a great. Petson
Posted by: Debbie Shadwick - Bronx, NY - January 4, 2020
You will be missed Loretta !!!
Posted by: Kenny Rodrigues - Yonkers, NY - January 5, 2020
Whatever the weather, whatever the location, Loretta was always one of the first to arrive & one of the last to leave the annual June Hawaii picnic. She was a regular at other Hawaii events. One of our dear kupuna we will remember her & miss her.
Kimo Gerald, with Hlwai.
Posted by: Kimo Gerald - New York, - January 5, 2020
Place: 2 Penn Plaza, TWA Reservations, Rate Desk (a hive of volatile personalities)
In the midst of ringing and/or slamming phones Loretta was an island of calm.
A gentle influence always with a smile on her face. She loved the annual
Chinese New Year dinners in Chinatown. My deep condolences to her family.
Posted by: SANDRA LEE - HONOLULU, HI - January 7, 2020
How could anyone forget such such a lovely woman. We attended the University of Minnesota together so many years ago. She lived in my neighborhood, we met on the bus that took us to school, played Tennis together, and were ushers at Nothrup Auditorium. She taught me to love opera. I visited her and Dan when Missy was a baby, and again when her youngest was in arms. Then we got lost for a while. What lovely spirit she was, and still lives in my heart.
Posted by: Jane Eschweiler - Minneapolis, MN - February 25, 2022
