Ms. West was a lovely lady with a beautiful heart.  She always had a kind smile for everyone at Our Lady Queen of Peace, especially the children.  My family and  I will miss her dearly.  Our condolences to her entire family.

What a special lady! She was truly a unique woman and one beloved by all of us who "grew up" at Woodies. She was a wonderful example to many. 
My sincerest condolences to her family.

Thaddenia Juanita Hayes was born August 13, 1914, in Washington, D.C., the eldest child of John and Mary (née Davis) Hayes. Tady, as she was known to family and friends, was followed by her siblings, Helen, John, and Arthur, all now deceased. Her formative years were spent in Washington, D.C., and she attended DC Public Schools, including the prestigious Dunbar High School. After she finished high school, the family moved to then-rural Arlington, Virginia, to help her sister Helen recover from asthma. Tady was soon married to Clifton West, Sr. and had three children: Raquel Patricia, (“Pat”), Beverly Veronica, and Clifton Norris Jr. (“Skeeter”). In 1937 she began a temporary job folding sweaters at Woodward & Lothrup, and over the next 57 ½ years worked her way up to the executive office, retiring at 80 as an IT communications specialist. She was passionate about her career at Woodies, and was honored quite often by the company during her tenure. On March 9, 1992, the Washington Post featured her story, titled, “55 Years at Work - and No Desire to Retire; Woodies' Thaddenia West Has Zest for Customers and Her Job.”
Although she was dedicated to her work, the most important thing in her life was family. That loving commitment was manifest from her rearing and supporting her three children on her own, to the care of her father John in the last years of his life. Tady's love and devotion for her family spilled over to her many friends and the community. In 1945 she, along with her parents and other brave Catholics, decided that they'd had enough of the humiliation of worshipping in a segregated Catholic church. Tady was the youngest adult in 16 families who petitioned Bishop Peter L. Ireton of Richmond (Arlington at that time was part of the Diocese of Richmond) for permission to form a parish that would be a home for the African-American Catholics in Arlington.
Bishop Ireton gave his approbation for the parish to be established. The Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) agreed to staff it, but the hard part was building the church. By the grace of God's Providence, combined with the donations, ingenuity and hard work of parishioners like Thaddenia, money was raised by means of bake sales, lawn parties, and sales of used clothing. On Pentecost Sunday 1947, the church of Our Lady Queen of Peace was blessed by Bishop Ireton. Thaddenia would be the last surviving founder of the parish.
At that time, there were not many activities for Black children in Arlington. So even with three teenagers under her wing, and a full time job, Thaddenia helped establish teen clubs in Arlington for colored children, clubs which were under the auspices of the YMCA. She made sure that these teen clubs were not just for entertainment, but to promote good manners and deportment in studies. Many Black professionals in the coming decade were alumni of these clubs.
Thaddenia also made sure that her children were raised properly in the Roman Catholic faith to which they still adhere. Pat, Beverly, and Skeeter were married in the Catholic Church, had their children baptized Catholic, and remained married, committed to their vocation as parents.
Everyplace where Thaddenia went, she made it an event. All her life, she loved a party and never needed a reason to host one. Most weekends involved some kind of celebration, a birthday, an anniversary, a First Holy Communion, Confirmation, a club meeting, Sodality, and all holidays; of course, her best parties were those thrown on General Principle. For Thaddenia, a simple family breakfast were multi-courses of sumptuous meats, fish, game, and fowl. The family still talks about the luau she threw in the 1960's, and the hog she roasted in a pit dug in the backyard. These affairs lasted well into the night, then the real party began for the Sunday dinner. Tady lived to give, and to love.

She leaves to mourn her passing her children: Raquel (Pat) Hall, Beverley Goode, Clifton (Skeeter) West, Jr. (Carole); her grandchildren Virginia Goode Waters (Emory), Adrian Hall Carpenter (Gregory), George Goode (Stephanie), Steven Goode (Connie), Cheryl Goode McGlotten (Robert), Harold Goode (Gail), Robert Hall (Susan), Clifton West, III, Alison West Hughes (Micheal), sixteen great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and numerous relatives and friends.

Mrs. West never had a bad day. She was always smiling and sharing her love.
Joe Culver

Thaddenia West was a very special person in the history of our Woodies family. Throughout my career I always viewed her as a voice of wisdom in the Washington store.  
         Ted Schindler ( Louisville, Ky)

Mrs. West was so pleasant, and always had a smile on her face.  She was one of the nicest people I met at Woodies, and she truly seemed to enjoy her work.  My deepest sympathy to her family.

Mary Reingruber

RIP Thadenia...... I was part of Woodies till the end.

Mrs West was a great lady. All who worked with her and knew her loved her. She was a bright light and a loyal associate of Woodies for more than 50 years.
Bob Mulligan  Washington DC

Mrs. West was a Woodward & Lothrop Icon. With a smile always on her face she greeted customers and employees with enthusiasm . CEO & Presidents of the company all called her by name Thaddenia. She started at Woodies in 1937, eleven years before I as even born. She was promoted in 1961 as Woodies first black supervisor. She would retire and come back to work, time after time, she loved it that much. When I was abducted into the "Twenty Year Club" in 1989, Mrs. West had already worked for Woodies for 52 years almost twice my 27 years and to my knowledge continued to work up until their closing in Nov. 1995 She is a part of history and will be be deeply missed not only by her family but by her family at Woodies. Kristin Raile-Kessling (Annapolis, Prince Georges, Metro Center, Iverson Mall, Pentagon, & Columbia) Rock Hill, SC

Mrs. West was a Woodward & Lothrop Icon. With a smile always on her face she greeted customers and employees with enthusiasm . CEO & Presidents of the company all called her by name Thaddenia. She started at Woodies in 1937, eleven years before I as even born. She was promoted in 1961 as Woodies first black supervisor. She would retire and come back to work, time after time, she loved it that much. When I was abducted into the "Twenty Year Club" in 1989, Mrs. West had already worked for Woodies for 52 years almost twice my 27 years and to my knowledge continued to work up until their closing in Nov. 1995 She is a part of history and will be be deeply missed not only by her family but by her family at Woodies. Kristin Railey-Kessling (Annapolis, Prince Georges, Metro Center, Iverson Mall, Pentagon, & Columbia) Rock Hill, SC

Thaddenia West inspired so much of what made Woodies a wonderful place to work. She was always willing to offer a helping hand or a kind word of encouragement. She was a motivating and caring person.

To Thaddenia's dear Family,
My sympathy to you on the death of your Mother.  I often brought her Holy Eucharist on Sundays as an outreach of St. John the Beloved Parish in McLean.  I was always touched by her devotion to the Eucharist and her gratitude to me as bearer of the Lord.  May she rest in peace eternally.

Anyone who, like me, worked at Woodies will always remember Ms. West for her unfailing smile and kindness.  My deepest sympathy to her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.  Joanne Steller

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Thaddenia H. West

13 août 1914 – 4 mai 2012

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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