CASCO – Isabel M. Thomas, 86, died Friday, May 16, 2008, in the loving care of her family, at her home. Born in Upper Blackville, New Brunswick, daughter of Thomas Henry Moran and Anne Elizabeth (Colford) Moran, her family moved to Maine when she was 6 months old. After graduation from Old Town High School, she became the secretary for the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Maine, Orono, where she met her future husband, Raymond P. Thomas, a mechanical engineering student and member of Army ROTC. Eventually, her husband made the military his career, and thus began an extremely challenging, but fascinating life. Moving across the country or world, at what sometimes seemed like a moment’s notice; traveling to the next duty station by car, train, ship or plane; living around the corner from the Vatican in Rome or in snowy Japan; Isabel and her husband reared five children, who have wonderful memories of their childhood. Isabel was always a busy lady; she was a Red Cross and well-baby clinic volunteer, Girl Scout Leader and Wives’ Club President. She loved playing golf, bowling, square dancing, shopping for antiques, playing bridge, wear-ing unique hats and knitting mittens and afghans for all; camping – not so much, but she was a good sport and came anyway. We will miss her great cooking, even in the last days of her illness, she worried about having enough food in the house for everyone, and her entertaining stories of all her cats! She was predeceased by her husband, Col. Raymond P. Thomas, retired; daughter, Elizabeth Anne (Moran, Thomas) Russell and her husband, Thomas Russell, of Lafayette, Ind.; two brothers, Robert Moran and Bernard Moran; and one sister, Mary Brockway. She is survived by three daughters, Kim Cave of Raymond, Marianne Thomas and Brett Welch of Scarborough and Suzanne Dufresne and Paul of Buxton; one son, Richard Thomas and Deb of Casco; and two sisters, Zelma Kosiavelon of Dracut, Mass., and Teri Barber of Ann Arbor, Mich. She enjoyed visits from her 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mom was a superb story-teller with a terrific sense of humor and in an autobiographical “letter” to her children stated, “I have had a very interesting life, a good life, traveled throughout the world, had a very happy marriage and was blessed with good children, and lucky enough to enjoy grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” The family is forever grateful to Hospice of Southern Maine, whose support enabled us to fulfill mom’s wish of coming to rest and peace at home. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road, Casco, where a funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday. Isabel was a passionate supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. In lieu of flowers, donations to those organizations would be appreciated.
ISABEL M. THOMAS
