Whitney P. Howe

QUECHEE—Whitney Patricia Howe, 9, died Saturday morning, Jan. 15, 2005, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., after a long and courageous battle with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer.

She was born July 9, 1995, at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, the daughter of Joel K. Howe and Karen L. Downing. She lived in Tunbridge for a short time before moving to Wilder. She was in the fourth grade at the Dothan Brook School in Wilder. She had lived in Quechee for the past couple of years.

Her favorite classes were math, art and snack-time. She enjoyed all kinds of arts and crafts, including coloring, painting, drawing and working with clay. Even her illness that she struggled with for the past five years could not hide the fun, loving spirit of this wonderful little girl. She loved a good party and found great pleasure in watching others have a good time. She liked to eat, especially AJ’s prime rib, Gondola Deli subs, homemade macaroni and cheese, and chicken pie.

She had a wonderful imagination and enjoyed playing house, dolls, and dress-up. She would often pretend she was a famous singer and would hold music concerts in her grandparents’ living room. She could sing, word for word, every Shania Twain song and most of Toby Keith’s as well. This past summer she traveled to Burlington to see him perform at the Champlain Valley Fair.

This past Halloween she dressed up as Brittney Spears and strutted her stuff in the children’s ward at DHMC. She was a hot ticket! As part of the Make-A-Wish program, she and her family traveled to Disney World in Florida. She had such a wonderful time that her family made a second trip just a short time ago.

She was a loving and thoughtful little girl who always put others’ needs before her own. She was very giving and would spend all of her money (and anyone else’s) to buy gifts for other people. She was an avid shopper and had a large collection of dresses and shoes, something for every occasion.

Through this long ordeal, she touched the lives of hundreds of people: her teachers and classmates, whom she loved so much; her countless friends who made donations on her behalf; her doctors, nurses and caregivers; her friends at AJ’s, her favorite restaurant in White River Junction; and others, who marveled at the courageous and caring spirit that was far beyond her nine short years.

Survivors include her mother, Karen Downing Howe of Quechee; her father, Joel K. Howe of Tunbridge; her sister, whom she absolutely adored, Amanda C. Howe of Quechee; her paternal grandparents, Luke and Patricia Howe of Tunbridge; her maternal grandparents, Roland and Catherine McKinney of Hartland and Roger and Linda Downing of South Royalton; several uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Calling hours were held Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the Quechee Community Church in Quechee. A service celebrating her life will be held Thursday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Quechee Community Church, with the Rev. Jo Shelnutt-Melendy officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 6635, Bloomingdale, Ill., 60108.

Services are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea.

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