Mary Ann (Cummings) Thomas, 102, of Duxbury, MA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 7th, 2012, with many loving family members by her side. She was born in Benedicta, Maine on April 19, 1910, the 6th of 10 children of Dennis and Mary (MacDonald) Cummings and was raised on a potato and dairy farm. Mary was a 1927 graduate of St. Benedict’s Academy and a 1932 graduate of Aroostook State Normal School, now the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Having graduated from college during the depression when there were few teaching jobs available, she became a nanny for a Cape Elizabeth, ME family that summered in Duxbury which is where Mary met her husband, Henry Thomas. Mary and Henry were married in 1936 and lived together in Duxbury until Henry’s death in 1984. Mary loved her family and her religion and was a talented musician. She enjoyed gardening, knitting and crocheting.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary “Betty” Ambrose of Middleboro, MA; her son, William Thomas and his wife Barbara of Mashpee, MA; her daughter, Beverly Medinger and her husband Thomas Dickson of Pine Hills, Plymouth, MA; and was predeceased by her son Robert Thomas, who died 2 days before his first birthday in 1943. She will be warmheartedly remembered as a devoted grandmother of 11, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great grandmother of 2 and will be sadly missed and forever loved by all. Her grandchildren are Laurie LeFebvre and husband Cliff, Scott Ambrose, Bobby Ambrose, Stacia Young and husband Jim, all of Middleboro, MA; Mark Ambrose of Freetown, MA; Kristi Zonfrelli and husband Barry of Carver, MA; Bill Thomas, Jr. and wife Shelley of Hanover, MA; Marie Bercume and husband Jon of Sandwich, MA; Jim Thomas and wife Kristin of Duxbury, MA; Paula Doerfler and husband Adam of Mashpee, MA; and Katie Medinger of NYC.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 12th at 11:00 am at the Holy Family Church in Duxbury. Interment will follow at Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury.
Family will receive friends at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 7 Mattakeesett Street (Rt. 14), Pembroke, MA 02359 on Thursday, October 11th, from 4-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital at www.stjude.org.