OLD TOWN – Heidi Robena Whitehouse, 29, formerly of Hampden, died peacefully May 6, 2006, at her home in Old Town, of a brain aneurysm after an eight-year battle with a major mental illness. She was born Oct. 14, 1976, in Rockport, the daughter of Philip A. and Martha (Elliott) Whitehouse. Heidi attended the Montessori School and kindergarten in Camden, the Dexter Primary-Middle School and graduated from Hampden Academy in 1994. Heidi’s childhood was full of fun times with many friends and she so adored her big brother, Josh. Music always had top priority in the Whitehouse family. Heidi sang and played clarinet while Josh played trumpet. When she was a teenager, she and Dad proudly sang together in St. Matthew’s Church choir and in Oratorio Society at the University of Maine. Mom made her performance dresses and was the proud parent in the audience whenever there was a program or a recital. Heidi studied voice with Ann Mills and her hard work was rewarded with All State and All Eastern Chorus awards, as well as High School Honors Choir. Through the years she won four prizes through Arcady Youth Competition, Bay Chamber Concerts Competitions and Maine NATS Competition, National Association of Teachers of Singing. Heidi attended the six-week choral program at Tanglewood Institute the summer of her junior year in high school and that experience fostered her dream to study voice at a “really good conservatory,” to sing at the “Met,” and to be part of a traveling opera troupe. Heidi studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where she sang like an angel, and graduated with honors in Voice Performance in 1998. Before Heidi could attend the graduate program in Voice Performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the unthinkable happened. A diagnosis of a major mental illness followed, along with Social Security disability, therapy, hospitalizations, many medicine adjustments and dealing with the serious side effects of medications. Heidi Robena Whitehouse was always a “trooper” and a positive inspiration to all who knew her, worked with her and loved her. She was more than brave. She was a positive thinker who always saw the glass half full instead of half empty. She valued and respected her medical providers and considered herself blessed to have the love and support of her family, her fiance and her friends. Of her disability, Heidi would say, “I didn’t get to deal the cards. I just get to play them. Besides, my situation isn’t so bad. After all, I don’t have Lou Gehrigs disease and all you guys really love me. I really do have a great team.” Heidi didn’t understand the darker side of human nature. She would say, “Why can’t people just leave other people alone?” People have asked us what they can do to help. We believe Heidi would want us all to love one another and to respect people for who they are, one person at a time. As a family, we were blessed to have Heidi in our lives for the past 29 years. She was a beautiful person both inside and out and had a tremendous ability to listen to and care deeply about family and friends. She was intelligent and fun and had a quirky sense of humor. Oh, how we’re all going to miss her in the days ahead! Heidi is survived by her parents of Hampden, Philip and Martha Whitehouse; her brother, Joshua and his wife, Natalie, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and her beloved fiance, Nathan Beckett, who made her life so worth living day by day these past four years. Extended family includes, Uncle Robin and Ellen Elliott of Dover-Foxcroft, and cousins, Seth, Sara and Hannah; Aunt Beth Odegaard of Calais and cousins, Allison and Lyndsey; cousins, Stephanie and Jesse; Aunt Kathleen and Ed Sera of Lahaina, Hawaii and cousins, Kaitlan and Kelleen; Aunt Cathy Buswell of Ellsworth and cousins, Teresa, Anna, Amy, Ted and Philip; and second cousins, Bena and Janie. Heidi dearly loved her special friends, Heather, Gim and Shannon; and her beloved cat, Pangur, whom she now entrusts to Nathan’s loving care. Heidi was predeceased by Grammy Elliott and Uncle Steven Elliott of Calais; Grampy and Grammy Whitehouse of Winter Harbor; and second cousin, Sydney Burrill. Visitation hours for both family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A Mass of Christian Burial to honor Heidi’s life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday, May 11, by Fr. Bob Vaillancourt at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 70 Western Ave., Hampden, followed by fellowship and refreshments. A private family interment will take place at a later date. The family wishes to thank the many individuals who loved and appreciated Heidi and helped her through difficult times, especially her beloved caseworker, Hermie Sweet, Karen Whitmore of St. Matthew’s Church, Dr. Jean Benson, Dr. Judy Burk and recently, Cynthia Reid of CHCS and caregivers at PCHC. Whereas Heidi cared so much for the well being of all animals and she got such joy and comfort from her beloved cat, Pangur, contributions in her name may be given to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 B Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick
HEIDI ROBENA WHITEHOUSE
