Obituary of Goldie S. P. White

It is with deep sadness that we announce that Goldie White (nee Bath) RN, BHA, CNP passed away at her home in Twillingate, NL on July 27,2021. Visitation (with COVID restrictions being observed) will take place at Isles Funeral Home in Twillingate, NL from 2pm to 4pm on Monday Aug. 2nd. Services will be held (by invitation only) at the Twillingate United Church on Tuesday, August 3rd at 2pm After graduating from the Salvation Army Grace General Hospital School of Nursing, White went to work in Yellowknife, N.W.T., then Coppermine, N.W.T. (now Kugluktuk, Nunavut) where she was the only healthcare provider in the entire community (a scenario that would become a recurring theme at many points in her 60 year nursing career). While in Coppermine, she met husband-to-be, Joseph, a fellow Newfoundlander and a radio operator with the Ministry of Transport at the time. Although their jobs took them to different locations, two-way radio communication afforded them the opportunity to keep their romance alive. They ultimately reunited, got married and moved to Twillingate. White was appointed the Director of Nursing at Notre Dame Memorial Hospital, and quickly made an impact as an advocate for nurses, challenging the hospital administration to implement policies that offered benefits such as maternity leave (which was relatively controversial at the time)… It was during these early years of White’s leadership journey she became involved in the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland, serving on the council for 20 years, including a term as president. During these years her commitment to lifelong learning was illustrated by continuing her education at Memorial University where she earned a Bachelor of Hospital Administration Degree. After forty years of nursing and hospital leadership, White reinvented herself by again going back to school and completing the nurse practitioner program through Eastern Health’s Centre for Nursing Studies, ultimately serving the communities of Change Islands for ten years, and Makkovik, on the northern coast of Labrador, for an additional thirteen years. During her nursing career she received many accolades as well as international recognition for her dedication and commitment to improving healthcare for patients and providers alike, she was also an accomplished and sought after speaker, delivering the keynote address at many prominent healthcare functions. Upon her retirement, White moved back to Twillingate where she was able to focus her energy on just about everything except relaxing and taking it easy. White is predeceased by her husband of 29 years, Joseph White, her brothers Wilfred Bath (Joan), and Joey Bath, sister Rita Hann, father Joseph Bath, mother Marguerite Bath, and step father Chesley Gillard. White is survived by her three sons, Fletcher (Joanne), Halifax, NS Tyler (Kim), Nashville, TN, and Denver, Halifax, NS, as well as 7 grandchildren, Michaela (August), Joey, Taylor, Caleb, Sophie, Sawyer and Noah, and 2 great grandchildren, her sisters and brothers Pat Pye (Eric, deceased), Halifax NS, Margo (Alan), Oshawa ON, David (Marylou), Moncton NB, and Kai (Brenda), Carbonear NL, and their families. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Joseph White Scholarship Fund which was set up in memory of Goldie’s husband, Joe and provides scholarship funds to the students at Twillingate Central Elementary and J.M. Olds Collegiate. Joseph F. White Memorial Fund 175 Main Street P.O. Box 279 Twillingate, NL AOG 4MO