Ermalinda Russo White

She leaves behind her beloved daughters, Judy White and David Lender of Milford, PA, and Joan White Weisbrod and devoted son-in-law David Weisbrod of Union, NJ, adored grandson Jonathan Weisbrod and Alicia Valko of Union, cherished caregiver Blessing Kpesrah of Irvington, and aide Semira Frankcoff of Irvington. Erma was predeceased by her husband, James F. White, daughter Janet Lynn White, sisters Grace Sinisi and Patricia Regueiro and brothers Sam and Alfonse Russo.

Born in Jersey City in 1923 to Italian immigrants Antonio Russo and Annunziata Lanni, Erma was an outstanding student who graduated two years early and longed to be an archaeologist, but went to work instead at 16 to help her family send her younger brothers to college. She vowed that her own daughters would never feel they couldn't achieve something just because they were girls. For the rest of her life she was a voracious reader, and well into her 90s still attended college courses in history and English literature. She read the newspaper every day until a few weeks before her death, and even started learning the piano at age 79, joking that in her next life she'd be that much more ahead.

In 1947, she married Jim White after meeting as a volunteer for a Jersey City Disabled American Veterans fundraiser he was helming. They moved to Union, where in 1950 they founded the James F. White Realty Co, which today is one of the oldest family-owned real estate businesses in NJ. Erma held real estate and insurance broker licenses, and was a 40-year Realtor-Emeritus of the National Association of Realtors.

Because of her daughter Janet's childhood disability, Erma and Jim founded the Epilepsy Foundation of NJ, hosting its first meeting in the basement of their Union home.

An extraordinarily spiritual person, she loved having her family stand on beaches, hold hands and chant "Om," and then join in laughter. She was passionate about Scrabble, pistachio ice cream, old movies, and Chanel No. 5. Erma was a truly selfless person who spent her life taking care of others. She finally got a chance to travel in her 80s, to the ruins of Pompeii, touring Italy, England and Amsterdam, and at 90 even walked the red carpet with her filmmaker daughters. Throughout it all, she counseled calm and peace. Her favorite advice rings especially true now: "This too shall pass."

A celebration of Erma's life will be held when possible.

Donations in her honor can be made to the Center for Hope Hospice, cfhh.org.