Miriam Irene White, age 97, passed away on March 20th, 2026 just five days prior to her 98th birthday.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March, 27th, 2026 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd with a wake service to be held at 3:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28th, at St. Joseph The Worker with Fr. Brian Dellaert officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Miriam was born in Bound Brook, NJ on March 25, 1920, daughter of Annette (Fuss) Geiger and Michael A. Geiger. She graduated from St. Peter’s High School and Douglass College, Rutgers University, both in New Brunswick, NJ. Miriam received her M.A. in Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and taught in public and private schools of New Jersey and Maryland prior to joining the music faculty of Clarke College, Dubuque in 1958.

She married Dr. James A. White on August 19, 1961 at St. Joseph Church, Bound Brook, NJ. After marriage she served as organist for choirs at St. Raphael’s Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Francis, Xavier, Dyersville, IA, St. Joseph the Worker Church and The Mound. A member of the Dubuque chapter, American Guild of Organists, Miriam played many recitals locally.

She is survived by sons Jim (Laura) White and John (Karin) White of Dallas, TX; daughter Molly White, Brooklyn, NY and daughter Jane (Michael Elliott) White of Los Angeles, CA; three grandchildren, Addison (Katie) White, Ian (Lexie) White, Drew White, and one great granddaughter, Olivia Louise White. She is also survived by her sister, Jane Geiger of Baltimore, MD and brother, Richard (Ann Marie) Geiger and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, James White; sisters Annette (Elia) Barbati and Loretta M. Geiger; brothers Michael Geiger, John (Ann) Geiger, and James (Katherine) Geiger.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bethany Home, Loras College, Clarke College and Hospice of Dubuque.

Special thanks to Hospice of Dubuque and Bethany Home for taking great care of Miriam.