Whitham, Marie Louise (Fornabi)
Marie Louise (Fornabi) Whitham, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother passed away on June 11, 2022 in her home surrounded by her family. Daughter of the late Michael and Angela (Angelo) Fornabi, Marie was born on Friday the 13th in April of 1928 in Hartford, CT. She was the widow of Wesley J. Whitham. She leaves two sons, Michael Whitham (Dona) of Coventry, CT; Scott Whitham (Brooke) of The Villages, FL; and a daughter Marina Cintron of Vernon, CT. She was grandmother to Amanda Gulino (Nicholas) of Oxford, MA; Alexander Whitham (Kelly) of Coventry, CT; and Jason Whitham (Grace) of Durham, NC.
In 2021 she was greatly blessed when all three of her grandchildren gave her great-grandchildren: Emily, Aria and Lily. These young girls were a source of great happiness over the last year.
She also leaves a sister, Frances Bowen of Queensbury, NY (with companion Paul), and a sister-in-law Anne Fornabi of South Windsor, CT. She also leaves her best friend of 90 years (like a sister) Mary Betters of Manchester, CT. Additionally, she leaves many much loved nieces, nephews, and special cousins, as well as many dear friends from the many churches she belonged to throughout her life.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her brother Anthony Fornabi, and her brother and sister-in-law Clifford and Lucile Whitham of Latham, NY; and brother-in-law Richard Bowen of Queensbury, NY. She was also pre-deceased by some very special loved ones including her aunt Deadora Natale who was like a sister to her, two cousins Marion Turnberg and Estelle Mcnamara, Frances Davis of Newington, CT, and dear friend Joseph Betters of East Hartford CT.
Marie worked for the United States Postal Service for twenty-four years and retired from management at the main office in Hartford affiliated with the New York Regional Procurement Office. For several years after retiring Marie and Wesley summered in Charleston, NH and wintered in Spring Hill, FL, before moving back to Connecticut. They also spent time traveling to parts of Europe, the Caribbean, and around the United States. Marie's faith was foremost in her life. She was honored to be asked to serve as Eucharistic Minister, and later became a professed Carmelite belonging to the
Third Order of Carmelites. Her devotion to the Brown Scapular started in Charleston, NH and continued in Spring Hill, FL.
Her greatest joys were being mother and later a grandmother -- and eventually a great-grandmother. She kept smiles on the faces of her family and friends with her cooking and her baking at which she excelled. Marie taught catechism for a time, and also served as Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and then as an Assistant Girl Scout Leader. In NH she was a “Story Lady” reading to the small children in the library. She and her mother were both talented seamstresses and made many gowns for the dances and social events she attended. Marie loved music and dancing, and she was proud to be an American. She loved art, especially pottery, and many of her sculptures adorned her house and those of her family as well. She also enjoyed UCONN women's basketball and the New England Patriots.
Finally, our family would like to express our immense gratitude to Dr. Richard Orris for his outstanding care and compassion over the past several years.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the Ladd-turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd. (Rt. 83) Vernon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Rockville, CT at 9:30 am. Please go directly to the church. Interment will be at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield following the Mass. Memorial contributions can be made in Marie's name to Cornerstone Foundation, P. O. Box 3, 15 Prospect Street, Vernon, CT 06066 or to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Rockville, CT 06066. For online condolences and guest book, please visit our website at www.carmonfuneralhome.com