As the staff union delegate for 30 years, Mrs Whitlock has also been well respected by everyone she dealt with in that capacity, her colleagues said.
She was part of the bargaining team that helped win the recent, historic $2 billion national wage increase for caregivers, given in the name of pay equity in a low paid, female dominated industry.
"She's fought for years for that and now she's going to miss out on equal pay herself," Nurses Organisation representative Odette Shaw said at the farewell.
Lester Heights owner Reddy Srinivas spoke about how he valued Mrs Whitlock as a mentor to the other staff and a help to residents and their families.
Diane and Bill Whitlock, a former paramedic, have three daughters: Rachael whose family the couple now live with, and twins Brenda and Rebecca.
All three followed their mother, a qualified nurse, into nursing or caregiving careers.
Rebecca Te Namu said the sisters were proud of their mother's "long commitment and loyalty to her job, the hundreds of patients and families she has nursed and cared for very deeply".
"She always believed the job has kept her fit and healthy. Her routine and determination to keep working in this job is to be hugely admired.
"Mum has seen so many staff come and go, some still remaining very close friends.
"She has nursed massive amounts of elderly to their last days, nurturing and caring for them to the best of her ability.
"Young, fit staff have been blown away by her empathy, strength and loyalty to the job."