Sydney Carroll Thomas

Milford – Sydney C. Thomas, 57, passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2011. She was born in Long Beach, CA on April 23, 1954, the daughter of the late Gregory and late Sybil (Dufton) Bernard.

Sydney grew up in California and graduated high school in Long Beach in 1972. She went on to the University of Rochester in New York. After obtaining her PhD, she became a professor at the University of Maine in Orono. Sydney found great joy in animals, especially her own, Livvy, Scoot, and Newton. She was a member of the ASPCA and PETA, and after her retirement, she volunteered at the Avian Haven in Freedom helping rehabilitate injured birds. She enjoyed bird watching and photography. She was also a ballet dancer who was still dancing on point when she passed away.

Sydney is survived by her 2 children, Jesse Paul Duncan and his fiancée Jenni Thomas and Julia Kill and her husband Craig; and her 5 grandchildren, Kacia May, Hadley and Radley Duncan, and Casey Ryan and Caitlyn Marie Kill.

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the Church of Latter Day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave., Bangor. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sydney’s honor may be made to the ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd St, New York, NY 10128-6804, aspca.org, to PETA, peta.org, or to the Avian Haven, 418 North Palermo Rd., Freedom, ME 04941. Notes of condolences may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com