Catherine ""Kay Frank Thomas

Catherine “Kay” Frank Thomas, 92, of Bethesda, Maryland, since 1959, passed away on June 29, 2016, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she had moved in late 2011 to be with her son and family. Loving wife, mother and grandmother, she will be missed dearly by all in her family and friends for her listening ear, positive attitude, caring, loving demeanor, her wisdom and the example she set for her family on how to treat others. She was a linguist of quiet accomplishment speaking seven different languages. Catherine was born in Bayonne, NJ on July 13, 1923, to Stefan and Veronica Parisick Franek. From age nine, Kay grew up on a 160-acre farm in South Willington, CT. She graduated as valedictorian from her high school class in 1942. In 1945, she graduated from University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT with a BA in Political Science. She then served in the American Red Cross in Germany and France after WWII (1946-1948). Upon her return she completed her Master’s Degree in Political Science from Georgetown University, Washington DC (1949). Catherine was an educator and while completing her Ph.D. in Political Science at Fordham University, New York City, NY (1955), Catherine taught Political Science, History and Economics at University of Saint Joseph (1952-1956). In 1956, Kay then became a Foreign Service Officer with the US State Department and served at the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea. Kay was married to the love of her life, Fred Charles Thomas Jr., in 1958, in San Francisco, CA. They met while both serving with the US Diplomatic mission in Seoul, Korea. They lived their lives around the world while serving at US Embassies in Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, Germany, Vietnam and India from 1956 through 1979. Catherine is survived by her children Fred Charles Thomas, III (Fort Collins, CO) and Veronica Helen Thomas (Bethesda, MD). She was predeceased by her husband, parents and her sisters Irene Dudek (Walter), Tolland, CT; Mary Jakowbowski (Walter-deceased), Bayonne, NJ; and brothers Anthony Franek (Renee-deceased), Bayonne, NJ; and Joseph Franek (Anastasia-deceased), Vernon, CT. In addition to her son and daughter, Kay is survived by her daughter-in-law, Carol Boyce Thomas; her grandson, Keegan Charles Thomas; her granddaughter, Riley Kaye Thomas; and her sister, Veronica Gere (James), Cromwell, CT. A service to celebrate Kay’s life will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 101 North Howes Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. A final inurnment, with Fred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA, is planned for later in the year. Kay and her family request, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy be sent in the form of a donation to The American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/), or Catholic Charities (http://www.ccdenver.org/). Please visit Kay’s online memorial at www.allnutt.com.