Phyllis Cavallaro White

SOUTH PORTLAND – It is with heavy hearts, yet profound gratitude, for a life well-lived that we announce the passing of Phyllis Cavallaro White. Phyllis departed this world peacefully on May 4, 2026, at the age of 96.

Born on March 14, 1930, in Pine Point, Maine, Phyllis was the daughter of Arthur Sullivan and Josephine Martel.

She spent her formative years in Hinkley, where her journey of lifelong learning began at Hinkley School. It was there she laid the groundwork for her future in the healing profession, a calling she fulfilled with unwavering dedication after graduating as a Registered Nurse from Maine General Hospital. Her career at Maine Medical Center spanned over four decades, during which she provided care and comfort to countless patients until her retirement in 1992.

She was predeceased by her spouses, Joseph C. Cavallaro and Roman Alden White; her son, Joseph C. Cavallaro, Jr.; and grandson, Kelly J. McGeough. Despite these profound losses, Phyllis’s spirit remained unbroken, and her heart continued to expand with love for her surviving family.

She leaves behind her sister, Nellie Cerpovicz; daughters Catherine A. Rizzo and her husband Richard J., Donna J. Cavallaro, and Barbara A. Cavallaro and her husband Michael Norris, and daughter-in-law, Mary Cavallaro. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren, Amy and Matthew Cavallaro, Christopher and Sara Rizzo, Nicholas Ordway, Natalie Barbour, and Catherine McGeough. Phyllis was also the proud great-grandmother to Abby, Josie, James, Jillian, Emily, and Theo.

Beyond her distinguished career and family life, Phyllis was a woman of adventure and curiosity. She had a passion for travel, which took her across the globe, including more than seven memorable trips to Ireland. Her winters were often spent in the warmth of Florida. Phyllis was also involved in her community, serving as a board member at Hinkley School, where she contributed her wisdom and guidance to the next generation.

In her final years, Phyllis found comfort in the compassionate care provided by the dedicated staff at Pinnacle Health Center in South Portland. Her family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers who treated Phyllis with the kindness and dignity

A graveside memorial service to celebrate Phyllis’s extraordinary life will be held at the Old Calvary Cemetery, 1461 Broadway, South Portland, on Wednesday, May 13, at 11 a.m.

To share memories of Phyllis or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Phyllis’s name to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Portland or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, as a tribute to the generosity and compassion that defined her life.