Whitnie Laura Walker-Caban, 43, of Aventura, Florida, passed away on April 13, 2022. She died unexpectedly in a transportation accident.

Her Memorial Service will be held on Monday, April 25, 2022, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The Burial Service will follow the next day at 11:00 a.m. at Vista Memorial Gardens in nearby Miami Lakes, Florida. She will be buried near her father, John, and other family members.

Whitnie was born on February 6, 1979, in Dubuque, Iowa, and was baptized at Saint Anthony Catholic Church. At age four, she moved with her family to Florida. During her childhood and early adolescence, Whitnie excelled as a student in elementary and middle school. She also participated in many extracurricular activities and clubs, such as piano lessons, Brownies, and Little League Softball. She had a lot of fun while on family camping trips hiking with her father and brother and while attending independent and foreign films with her mother.

Whitnie graduated from Western High School in 1997 after receiving several academic and band awards and the Citizenship Award as well. She participated in track and was a gifted artist and musician. She was Band Captain her junior year. During her last year, her photograph was featured in the school’s main office as part of the Senior Class Hall of Fame.

During her senior year, Whitnie tried out for a Grammy Band—regional bands sponsored by the Grammy Association. For South Florida, it was housed at the University of Miami. After the tryouts, she secured a spot in the 1997 National Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble as the second-chair trombonist—the improvisational chair. That implied that she was the second-best jazz trombonist in the nation for high school students . . . and Kenny G had nothing on her when it came to circular breathing because she could do it and continue to play without stopping. She was under contract with the Grammy Association her senior year and was invited to participate in a 10-day trip to New York City to attend the Grammys. While there, the band recorded a CD, played at the famous Birdland Jazz Club, and performed on “Good Morning America.” The band even entertained four American presidents during the Presidential Summit in Philadelphia that year.

In recognition of her musical talent, Whitnie was offered music scholarships from multiple colleges. However, she chose to attend the University of Miami (UM), on academic scholarships and as a Florida Bright Futures Scholar, for its excellent design college. In her fourth year she was awarded the Colin MacDonald Betsch Memorial Award for best-design student. She was also inducted into the Beta Gamma Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta, the only national honor society for architecture and design majors. She earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 2002 after completing a five-year professional program.

For a period of time during her college years, Whitnie had a part-time job at an engineering-architectural firm where she met her future husband, Ken Caban, who also worked there as an engineer. She and Ken married in January of 2004 and later had two daughters, Inés, now age 15, and Chloé, now age 11. Her girls were the love of her life!

Upon graduation from UM, Whitnie secured employment at Arquitectonica and later worked at Alison Spear Design where she wanted to focus more on interiors. After having her first child, Whitnie became a stay-at-home-mom for several years. More recently, she became interested in horticulture, always having a love of gardens and flowers, especially orchids, and started a landscaping-design company along with a family friend. Her landscaping clients loved her, and she impressed all with her professional and business savvy, along with her work ethic receiving Super Service Awards from Angie’s List.

In addition to landscaping, Whitnie also loved beautiful buildings, art, and music. She especially enjoyed the music of the 70’s and jazz, probably having been influenced by her parents.

Whitnie was a gentle soul and loved animals, especially dogs and cats. She picked up many strays and helped to find homes for them.

Whitnie is survived by her immediate family and her mother, Amada Maria Walker; her brother, Weston; and also her grandmother, Hortensia Serra Rodriguez. She also leaves behind aunts and uncles in the mid-west and many
cousins in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and throughout the mid-west.

The world will be a little less beautiful and kind without you, Whitnie. You will forever remain in our hearts.

For those unable to attend, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the service on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 7:30 PM.  The link to attend LIVE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: Hover & Click to the Right of the Arrow —> BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE