Nora Thomas Friel

Nora Thomas Friel, 63, passed away on March 19, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona. Born on December 9, 1962 in the Marshall Islands, Nora was the daughter of Dor and Rubos Thomas. She later made her home in Van Horn, Texas.

Generous, hard-working, faithful, brave, honest, selfless, devoted, and loyal, Nora lived with a steady strength that could be felt in the way she cared for others and the way she carried herself through life. She loved God and appreciated the many blessings that came into her life.

Nora married James Friel III in 1992 in the Marshall Islands. He preceded her in passing in 2016.

Nora is survived by her six children: Dora Teljo, Noreen (Luis) Friel, Victoria (Jon) Chelgren, James (Arisbet) Friel, Stanley (Valeria) Friel, and Ernest Friel; her grandchildren: Julie, Jason, Nikki, Ninej, James, Kami, Aaron, Bakol, Roselie, Bella, Aaliyah, Kunkun, Baby Jimmy, Axel, Nico, and Luis. Nora is also survived by her six siblings from the Marshall Islands. Along with her immediate family, Nora raised many others as well, extending her care beyond her own household with a heart that always made room for one more.

Nora’s deepest passions were her family and her culture from the Marshall Islands. She was never afraid to represent her culture and her ancestry, even while living in Texas from 1996 and throughout the latter part of her life.

She loved sewing and crafting—sewing her daughters’ clothes, quilting, cooking, and barbequing delicious grilled dinners for her family, and always finding an excuse to gather everyone together on a Sunday afternoon. Nora also loved to dance and play cards. “Aggressive Rummy” with her family was a favorite, and she never 'cheated' once. She even chose lottery numbers with care, using her grandbabies’ birthdates for luck—and, as her family fondly remembers, she always won.

A Celebration of Nora's life will be held from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery: 10940 E Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, Arizona 85248.