Helen Valerie Thomas' Obituary
In Loving Memory of Helen V. Thomas
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.
Psalm 62:1
Helen Valerie Thomas of Gainesville, Florida, entered into eternal peaceful rest on January 10, 2018 at the age of 91. Helen was born in Brooklyn, New York on
April 13, 1926. On November 11, 1945, Stephen E. Thomas and Helen V. Senk were married in the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, New York. They moved to Florida in 1962 with their 3 children.
During their marriage, Helen helped her husband in his various entrepreneur pursuits, which included a run for political office in Yonkers, New York, owning a Sinclair gas and gift shop station in Gainesville on the corner of Newberry Road and 34th street, and creating an avenue to bring sellers and buyers together for sale and purchase of real estate property. Her husband, of 41 years died on December 14, 1987 at the age of 63. In 1988, Helen returned to Gainesville to be near her daughter.
During Helen’s senior years in Gainesville she was a volunteer office worker at the Department of Children and Families for 10 years. She was active in the Newcomer’s Club and served as the Chairman of the Canasta Group for many years. She always looked forward to her weekly card games with the “ladies” every Wednesday at area restaurants.
Helen was also known as “Crafty” or “The Craft Lady” because of her artistic talent with crafts and putting on craft shows. She crotched, made beautiful Afghans, decorative fans, tissue boxes, tote bags and various other decorations and art work. Her prized art work were winter wonderland snow scenes. She also created exquisite scrap books where her love of cats and dogs and other favorites like flowers, birds, dolls and angels were beautifully expressed.
Helen’s daughter would like to express her appreciation to all the doctors who have taken care of her mother throughout the years and the staff at Terrace Health and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Woodlands) who became her mother’s extended family since May 2011. They enjoyed her mother and even helped her put on craft shows there! Helen V. Thomas is survived by her son Philip, grandson Joseph, grand-daughter Sherrie, her beloved sister-in-law Elizabeth “Betty,” her dear niece Betty Ann and many great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her daughter Helen Vaillancourt, who faithfully took care of her mother with God’s love, guidance and strength and the prayer support of many.
Graveside services will be held.
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