Lori “Eleonore” Whitehead née Wallner
unknown - unknown
Lori (Eleonore) Whitehead 93, née Wallner
of Camperdown Heights, died peacefully at her home on January 23, 2017. At 8:30 a.m.
Funeral Services will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Shirley Street, Nassau (TODAY) Thursday, 2nd February, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.
Father Anselm Russell will officiate.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Captain John Whitehead; her father, Erwin and mother, Eleonore and is survived by her two sons, Peter and Thomas; two daughters-in-law, Judith & Analia; grandchildren, Sandra, Peter, Phillip, Sofia, Rory, Alannah and Tessa; great grandchildren, Finn, Harrison, Toby, Oliver, Maria-Exuma, Alexia, Matias and Frankie; her brother, Adolf Wallner; numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Lori was born Mar. 5, 1923, in Zceliz, Slovakia, (Hungary) and in her early teen years moved to Salzburg, Austria to the little village of Niederalm with her entire family. She lived through the war in Salzburg, Austria, which had been annexed by the Germans during World War II. She worked in a “Forced Labour Camp” during the war where they manufactured ammunitions. Her three brothers were enlisted and went to war and got as far as the Russian Front. She met John Whitehead after the war, fell in love and married him three months later. They then moved to England where they settled and a year later moved to Nassau, Bahamas in 1948. They lived in Gambier (New Providence) for many years.
Her grandchildren and daughters-in-law called her “Mima”. She was a wonderful, kind, loving woman. She was an avid rider and started a riding school with Lady Greta Oakes and then ran the riding school herself for many years in Nassau and then finally on Paradise Island for the then owner of Paradise Island Mr. Huntington Hartford. She taught many kids to ride and always had kids surround her. She took care of them all. She taught Harry Belafonte as well as Sidney Poitier to ride. She was the first lady to win the “Ladies Race” in a Photo Finish on the horse named “Bahamian Gal” which at the time was a sensation at Hobby Horse Hall race-track. She taught all of us how to sail, snorkel, spearfish and encouraged us to play music.
Mima had a very strong faith and was a devoted Catholic throughout her life. She will be remembered by all those that she came in contact with.
We will all miss her very much.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ranfurly Home for Children, P.O. Box N. 1413, Nassau, in memory of Lori (Eleonore) Whitehead.
Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, 19 Palmdale Avenue, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas.
