Janet O. White

1940 - 2018

COOPERSTOWN - Janet O. White, 77, of Cooperstown, died following a brief illness Monday night, June 4, 2018, at Albany Medical Center. 

She was born Janet Linquist Owens on September 1, 1940, in Plainfield, New Jersey, a daughter of E. Alder and Dorothy (Conway) Owens.

After graduating from Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield, New Jersey, Janet attended Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks where she studied hotel management and was a cheerleader. It was during her time at Paul Smith’s that she met Richard A. White, and they were married on September 10, 1960, in Mountainside, New Jersey.

In 1960 the Whites moved to Oneonta where Richard attended Oneonta State, after which he began teaching in Cooperstown. When Richard received a NSF grant in 1965, the Whites moved to Oregon where Richard completed a second Master’s degree. They returned East the following year, where Richard continued his teaching career at Cooperstown Central School, later serving as the Mathematics Department Chair and Boys Varsity Basketball Coach. Janet’s true passions were being a devoted mother to her children and being extremely supportive of Richard in all his scholastic and athletic endeavors, which often included team laundry and hot meals after practice. Richard and Janet enjoyed 47 years of marriage until his untimely death due to cancer on October 9, 2007. 

Over the years, Janet enjoyed antiquing, listening to country music, playing Bridge with friends, and golfing. She especially loved dancing and collecting any dish or cup with a Dogwood flower on it. For the past twenty years she enjoyed spending winters in Juno Beach, Florida. 

Janet is survived by a son, David Richard White and his wife Carol of Florence, South Carolina; a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Paruleski and her husband Nickolas of San Diego, California; and a son Jonathan Michael White and his wife Kim of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Emily and Sydney White, and Landon, Janet and Christopher Paruleski; a sister, Elizabeth Snyder and her husband, Ken of California; a sister-in-law, Ruth Ferrari of Vestal; and several nieces and nephews.

She is further survived by her dance partner, travelling companion and dear and loving friend, Arnie Jungkind of Springfield. 

In addition to her husband, Janet was predeceased by an infant son, Kevin Owens White, a brother, David Alder Owens, and a half sister, Barbara Owens.

A Memorial Service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 11, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie A. Rhodes, pastor officiating. Immediately following the service, Janet’s family will receive friends in the adjoining Chapel for a time of refreshment and fellowship. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown at a later date.

Janet’s family requests that any contributions in her name should be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401. 

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.