Ella R. Thomas
...lifelong Tewksbury resident; 87
TEWKSBURY -Ella R. (Bernsson) Thomas, age 87, a lifelong Tewksbury resident, elementary teacher, and active member of her church, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 13, at the Lowell General Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank Thomas.
She was born in Billerica, May 30, 1924, a daughter of the late Emil and Avah (Marshall) Bernsson. She was raised in Tewksbury, where she remained until moving to Billerica Crossings in 2004. She was an active member of the Tewksbury Congregational Church for over seventy years, and was a member of the Ladies Aid Society. She graduated from Tewksbury Schools, and earned a Bachelor's degree at Lowell State Teacher's College. She worked as a teacher and substitute teacher in the Tewksbury public school system while raising her family.
She is survived by four children, Phillip Thomas and his wife Gloria (Berube) of Lowell, Paul Thomas and his wife Linda (Leitos) of Tewksbury, Carol Cummings and her spouse Michael Watroba of Tualatin, Oregon, Judy Bannister and her husband Ralph of Lowell; a son-in-law, Eugene Hubert of Tewksbury; a sister, Barbara Buckley of Lowell; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Thomas, Paul Thomas Jr., Kristi Franko, Heather Cummings, Charles Bannister, Michael Bannister, Jesseca Hubert, and Eugene Hubert Jr.; her great grandchildren, Brittany, Christopher, Dallas, Dylan, Braeden, and Collin; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the beloved mother of the late Helen Thomas and Janet Hubert and the beloved grandmother of the late Phillip Thomas Jr.
A funeral service was held Friday, September 16, in the Tewksbury Congregational Church, corner of East and Main Sts. (Rte 38) Tewksbury Center. Interment was at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Tewksbury Congregational Church will be appreciated.