Betty Anne White
Jun 27th, 2025
Betty Anne White July 21, 1930 – June 27, 2025 Betty Anne White, of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at her beloved Heatherwood home on June 27, just two weeks shy of her 95th birthday.
Born in East Machias, Maine, Betty was one of eleven children of Marjorie and Edgar Albee. Like all the Albee children, she worked hard on the family property—raking blueberries, weeding potato fields, tending animals, and helping her older brothers churn homemade ice cream. She and her siblings went to a one-room schoolhouse where Betty’s beloved teacher, “Libby,” sparked a lifelong love of learning. Betty later attended Washington State Normal School, now the University of Maine at Machias.
Betty and her sister Wanda loved the local community dances, and it was there that Betty met her future husband, David Oliver White of Jonesport, Maine. Dave served as a Naval Officer during World War II and the Korean conflict, and Betty followed him to duty stations across the country—from Virginia Beach to Bremerton, Washington—where, on one memorable leave, they enjoyed a live performance by Louis Armstrong.
After the war, Betty and Dave settled in the Boston suburbs, where they raised their two daughters, Virginia May Allfrey, RN (Holliston, MA; deceased 2024), and Stephanie Ann White, PhD (Los Angeles, CA). Betty worked in several roles, including at the MITRE Corporation, and she embraced yoga, crediting the practice for her lifelong strength and flexibility.
Upon retirement, Betty and Dave moved to East Dennis and became active members of Dennis Union Church—volunteering for the annual auction and joining dinner groups with friends. They traveled together on Betty’s first trip to Europe, visiting many countries where Dave had served. Betty cherished memories of all their adventures—especially the day they nearly missed their tour bus in Italy while searching for a famous gelato shop.
In 2014, they moved to Heatherwood at King’s Way, where they fully embraced community life—dancing, attending concerts, and welcoming family and friends. After Dave’s passing in 2015, Betty continued to thrive at Heatherwood. She played “Dolly” in the annual Heatherwood Follies, read fortunes at the fall fair, and even took to Zoom during the pandemic to star as Nora in a revival of an old-time “Nick and Nora” radio play, which later premiered on YouTube. As she liked to quip, she was “Betty White of Heatherwood—not Hollywood,” though she remained an avid Golden Girls fan.
Betty will be remembered for her warmth, humor, elegance, and vivacity, and above all for her deep love of family. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Albee; daughter, Stephanie, and son-in-law, Felix Schweizer; son-in-law Philip (Jim) Allfrey III; grandchildren Philip James Allfrey, Alexis Porcello, and Nathaniel Allfrey; and great-grandchildren Abigail and Benjamin Allfrey, and Elliana and Roman Porcello.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Betty’s devoted caregivers at Heatherwood and Bickford Health Associates, whose exceptional care and friendship brought joy and comfort during her final years.