Mrs. Lenora Nory T. Santos Thomas

She was born on 39 Bradford Street, the middle child of what would be six daughters, on December 23, 1928 to Annie (Meads) and Frank Santos in Provincetown.

She lived by the rule her father taught her: "No one is better than you; and you're not better than anyone else." In her early years, she often got in trouble in school, sometimes for wearing pants. She worked at many popular establishments in town starting with the Gifford House in the early 1940s, the Governor Bradford, the Cottage Restaurant, Dairyland, and ending her career at John's Foot Long in 2000. A devout Catholic, she performed all her sacraments in St Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on Prince Street, where she married her long-time boyfriend, Donald Thomas on October 9, 1947.

She held a strong belief in family. She loved to laugh with her sisters with whom she shared fond memories and a special bond. She played basketball and volleyball, was good at chess and was always up for games or storytelling with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Never worried about "keeping up with the Joneses," she had little material wealth but was happy as long as she could "get in the car and go" wherever her husband would take her, since she never obtained a driver's license for herself. In her seventies, she learned all the US Presidents, states and capitols. Up to her last day she remembered neighbors and friends from her past and never had a bad word to say about anyone. She enjoyed smoking, television, black coffee and good company. But more than anything, she loved to laugh.

Nory is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years, Donald J. Thomas of Eastham; her daughter Donna M. Thomas, also of Eastham; her son and daughter-in-law, Steven Z. and Karen A. Thomas; her grandson, Heath J. Thomas of Truro; her granddaughter and great-grandson, Alicia K. Thomas and Cyris M. DeVries of Provincetown; her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Carmen M. Thomas and Razilee T.X. Mueller of Provincetown; her god-daughter, Claudia Hopkins of Harwich; her three sisters, Jeannie Costa, Loretta Lema and Sherry Costa; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sisters Vivian Souza and Mary Enos.

Services will be held at St. Peter's in Provincetown on Saturday, August 21 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to Meals on Wheels, c/o Eastham Senior Center, 1405 Nauset Road, Eastham, MA 02642 or to the Eastham Rescue Squad, 2520 State Highway, Eastham, MA 02642.