Helen S. Thomas

She was born on May 13, 1940, in Woonsocket, RI, the daughter of Raymond and Marguerite Alice (Lussier) Blanchard. Helen married William “Bill” B. Thomas, Sr. on July 28, 1961, in Jacksonville, FL. Bill preceded her in death on September 14, 2019.

Helen graduated from South Broward High School in Hollywood, FL in 1959. She then proudly served her country as a U.S. Navy Corpsman for two years. Helen later earned her nursing degree at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, TX and retired after 22 years of nursing. After moving to the Springfield community in March of 2007, she became a parish nurse at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, where she was a member of the Sew ‘n Sews club. Aside from sewing/quilting, Helen enjoyed playing with her grandkids, easy-listening music, and spending quality time with her kitty, Peek A Boo.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and sibling, James Blanchard.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Beverly (Joe) Rios of Chatham; sons, Bill Thomas, Jr. of Pensacola, FL and Mike (Grace Ann) Thomas of Springfield; grandchildren, Marshall, Christina (Evan), Mike Jr., Marisa, and David; and sibling, Pat McMillan of Georgetown, TX.

Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Butler Funeral Home – Chatham, 8855 State Rte. 4, Chatham, IL. A Funeral Ceremony will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Joseph M. Molloy officiating.

Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery, with military honors by the Navy Department of Defense.

Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham, IL, 62629.