William Stephen White was born on May 25, 2021 and gained a heavenly birthday on May 29, 2021. William (Will) gave the world and his family four beautiful days of life before God received him lovingly in His arms. While Will’s life was short, we could never have imagined the impact his beautiful life would have on so many. Will’s beautiful life and the memories created with him will sustain us, his family, until we can all be reunited in heaven.
Will is the son of the proudest parents Patrick and Kayla (Sales) White of Prairie Village, Kansas. Will’s biggest fans are his sisters, Emory and Rosie, who lovingly call him Cuppy Cuppy, a nickname bestowed on him in the way only toddlers can. Second in pride to only his parents are Will’s grandparents, who were by his side loving on him for so much of his short life. Maternal grandparents are Pops and Giger (Stephen and Diane Sales) and paternal grandparents are PopPop and Nina (William and Ellen White) both of Overland Park, Kansas.
Will has many aunts, uncles and cousins, both biological and by choice, who will continue to live on his legacy from near and far. Will was preceded in death and his family took great comfort knowing he was welcomed into heaven by his great grandparents: Phyllis Sales Epps (maternal), Jack and Brenda Rankin (maternal), Bob and Nor O’Neill (paternal) and Ken and Agnes White (paternal).
Will’s life, both before and after birth, was touched and supported by many. The family sends a heartfelt thank you to the many teams at Children’s Mercy who touched both Will’s and the family’s lives: Cardiology, Labor and Delivery, Maternal Fetal Medicine, NICU and Palliative Care. The family is also incredibly grateful to: Will’s two Cardiologists outside of his Children’s Mercy care, Kayla’s OB-GYN and Emory, Rosie & Will’s Pediatrician all of whom went above and beyond to provide wisdom and support.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Richard Storey, a dear friend of Will’s, and held at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2021 with a celebration of life immediately following at the church. Masks are optional inside the church and the celebration of life will be outdoors.
The family has created a Foundation in Will’s name, The WSW Heart Foundation, to help Families with a Fetal Heart diagnosis, Critical Congenital Heart Defect Families and Families impacted by Infant Loss. Will has given his family so much; they can’t wait to pass his many gifts on to others.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The WSW Heart Foundation held at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation online at https://gkccf.kimbia.com/wswh00 or via mail at 1055 Broadway Blvd., Suite 130, Kansas City, MO 64105.