Obituary of Daisy White Pepe

Daisy White Pepe died peacefully at her residence in Chapel Hill, NC on Tuesday afternoon, November 1st. She was surrounded by 3 generations of her family. Born in Ely, Nevada on November 5th, 1926, she passed just 4 days shy of her 96th birthday.

Daisy is survived by her three children, Michael, Alisun, and Richard, their spouses, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

One of four children of Richard and Maude White, Daisy grew up in rural Nevada and California. She moved east to Boonton, NJ after meeting Henry J. Pepe at a USO club dance for WWII soldiers. Henry and Daisy were married in Boonton on August 10, 1947, and remained partners for 68 years. While in Boonton surrounded by the Pepe family, Daisy mastered many Italian dishes including lasagna and meatballs.

She had a long career in the U.S. Post Office, starting in Boonton, NJ and finishing in Clearwater and Tarpon Springs, FL.

Daisy was a voracious reader, correspondent and loved to dance to the big band music of Tommy Dorsey, The Andrews Sisters, and many others. In her later years, with Alisun’s tutelage, she took brush to canvas and produced many colorful abstract paintings, now cherished by her survivors.

Perhaps her greatest passion besides her family was her love of travel. Driven by her adventurous spirit, she explored more than 20 countries, ranging from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Istanbul, Turkey, to Alaska with her husband, Henry and her favorite traveling companion, Libby Ceddia. She encouraged everyone to “see the world” and she did just that.

Daisy will be interred alongside her beloved Henry, at the Bay Pines Military cemetery in Bay Pines, FL in a private ceremony. Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, NC is assisting the family.