Crash victim was caring, 'loved by her peers'

AUBURN — Lisa White, 36, was remembered Monday as someone who loved being a wife and mother, and who was caring with residents at the Clover Manor Residential Center, where she worked.

Her daughter, Marissa White, 4, was remembered as "daddy's little girl," a sweet, smiling child who loved books and going to preschool.

Mother and daughter died Saturday afternoon when a truck crossed the centerline and crashed into the White's Oldsmobile on Minot Avenue near Mac's Grill.

The truck was driven by Donald Lovell, 43, of Norway. He was hauling a trailer when his truck left its lane.

In addition to leaving two dead, the crash left three hospitalized at Central Maine Medical Center. No information was available Monday night about White's daughter, Monica Wentworth, 12, according to a nursing supervisor.

Lovell was in critical condition. His passenger, Bernard Page Jr., 45, of South Paris, was also in critical condition.

At the time of the crash, Marc Veilleux, a deputy fire chief in Lisbon, was at a nearby store. "I heard the crash, turned around the saw it," he said. He drove his vehicle in front of the disabled vehicles to prevent oncoming traffic from driving into the crash.

When he reached the victims, "it was horrific," he said. "Everybody was badly hurt." He called for assistance.

Across the street, Army Reserve soldiers, who included some nurses and paramedics, were undergoing medical trauma training, Veilleux said. "They came over. We went to work on patient care. . . . There were six victims."

After police and rescue units arrived, Veilleux and the soldiers stayed and assisted. "They were tremendous," he said, adding some soldiers went to the hospital with the patients. "I shook every one of their hands."

Dealing with death is tough, but it's especially rough when a victim is a child, Veilleux said.

While police continued the crash investigation Monday, those close to the victims were trying to come to terms with the losses.

Ann Proctor, director of residential care, hired White as a personal support specialist at Clover Manor more than a year ago.

She hired her "because I was impressed by her." Working with residents, White was "extremely attentive and passionate," Proctor said. "She was loved by all her peers and colleagues. She was a very good worker, a good employee. She'll be missed. The staff is devastated."

A grief counselor will be helping Clover Manor staff deal with White's death, Proctor said.

At Fairview Elementary School, Principal Cathy Folan remembered Marissa White as "a real sweetheart. A real cutie. She was just like any other 4-year-old. She was glad to be at school every day. She was sweet and smiling."

Her obituary stated the girl liked to go to school every day, even on days when there was no school. Her favorite cartoon character was Dora. Marissa loved books, coloring, fishing and swinging on the tire swing in her yard.

She's the third child from the family to attend Fairview. "We know the family," Folan said. "Everybody is feeling just really terrible about this tragedy. It's almost beyond belief."

White's stepdaughter, Monica, also attended Fairview. "Several teachers are concerned about her recovery," the principal said. "We're all feeling sad, waiting to see how we can help."

Prekindergarten students in the girl's class were not told about her death. Folan, a guidance counselor and the teacher met Monday to talk about how to handle the loss. They agreed to send home a letter to parents informing them about the tragedy, and let parents decide whether, and how, to talk about it with their preschoolers.

"We're dealing with 4-year-olds, they all have different understanding of loss and death," Folan said. "Every family deals very differently with death. We felt strongly if their child asks questions," parents should be the ones providing answers. Parents who ask for guidance from school staff will be provided that, Foley said.

According to Lisa White's obituary, she was Lisa Ann (Scribner) White, born in Portland, and graduated from Portland High School.

She married Billy White in 2000. They moved to Auburn where they bought their first home to start a new life together with their children. Family members remembered Lisa for loving her role as mother and wife, how she always helped others, had "a heart of gold," and made the best potato salad and apple crisp.

Arrangements are by the Dolby Funeral Home Chapel in Windham. Visiting hours will be Wednesday morning, followed by a funeral service at noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Windham.

The family has requested donations be made in their memories to the family: The William White Family, c/o Coast Line Credit Union of Maine, 333 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106.