Modena Thibodeau

Modena Marie Thibodeau was born in Murray, Newton County Arkansas, on February 11, 1917, to George W. Self and Thenia B. Sparks Self. She was raised in the Ozark Mountains with her siblings Vearl, Beecher, Myrtle, Elsie, Lois, LaVerne, and Mary Jo. In 1935, she married Hugh Boles. They moved to Los Angeles, California, where son Charles was born in 1937. In 1946, she married Alcide Thibodeau and welcomed son, Joe and later daughter Cynthia. After the children were raised, she and Al returned to Arkansas where they spent their golden years. She left this earth unexpectedly and peacefully on March 27, 2020, having recently celebrated her 103rd birthday.

Modena was loving, compassionate, hardworking, creative, talented, and fiercely independent. During World War ll, she worked in a defense plant, a true Rosie the Riveter. Later, she owned and operated her own beauty shops, helped run the family’s hamburger stand and chicken ranch, and always kept an immaculate home. She loved crafts and created beautiful pinecone wreaths, Christmas stockings and keepsakes, which she gifted to her children and grandchildren. In her later years, she became known as Grandma Rocks for the intricately painted stones she created and shared with friends and strangers that she met. She enjoyed painting and creating art until the very end. Modena’s fried pies and fudge were legendary. She loved to laugh, share a story, and get her morning coffee, especially if it meant a trip to McDonald’s in Harrison. Modena was small but mighty, and after Al’s passing lived independently until the age of 99. She loved her family and was immensely proud of her children, grand and great grandchildren. Hers was a life well lived, she was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Modena was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Al, son Charles, and granddaughter-in-law Gina Boles. She is survived by her sister Mary Jo Lewis, son Joe (Peggy) Thibodeau, daughter Cindy (Doug) Gjersvold, daughter-in-law Nancy Boles, grandchildren Michael (Kimberly) Boles, Jonathan (Lisa) Boles, Kelli (Pat) Perkins, Brian(Ashley)Thibodeau, Mindy (Marc) Utley, Ali Thibodeau, Michael Thibodeau, Jason (Adriana) Gjersvold, Justin (Ashley) Allen, 17 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Presbyterian Village

510 N. Brookwood, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

To share a memory of Modena with her family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com