Thelma S. Belanger

Thelma S. Belanger of Lakewood, CA passed into the hands of our Lord on Sunday, June 17th, 2012 at the age of 84 due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. Born Thelma Emma Smithhammer on January 28th, 1928 to Cornelius and Clementine Smithhammer of Pleasant Valley, PA. Thelma met her husband, John while working at Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation in Los Angeles, CA. They were married on September 27, 1952 at St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Long Beach. She enjoyed painting, ceramics, knitting, reading mystery novels, but mostly caring for her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Throughout her life, she was always a loving and caring person with a gentle soul even as her disease progressed in her later years.

Thelma is survived by her sister Jean Kacz of Alvin, TX, her brother Neal Smithhammer of Redlands, CA, and her six children: son John Belanger, daughter-in-law Mary, granddaughter Sarah and great-grandson Jude, grandson Ian, of Federal Way, Washington; son Andrew Belanger of Lakewood, CA; son Mark Belanger, daughter-in-law Dorothy, grandsons Luke and Sean of Sylmar, CA and granddaughter Samantha, grandson-in-law Brian and great-granddaughter Charlotte of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; son Matthew Belanger, daughter-in-law Julie, grandson Nick, granddaughter-in-law Rachel and great-granddaughter Raegan, grandson Jonathan and granddaughter Paige of Long Beach, CA; daughter Mary Garry, son-in-law Michael, grandsons Peter and Christopher of Long Beach, CA; and son Michael Belanger of Long Beach, CA. She joins her beloved husband John Leonard Belanger in eternal life at the Veteran's Cemetery in Riverside, CA.