Mary Thomsen

Mary Thomsen peacefully joined the Lord with her loving family by her side on March 9th, 2017. She was born Mary DeSousa on August 6th, 1916 in Georgetown British Guiana, South America to Vincencia (DeFrance) and Vincent DeSousa. Mary was the youngest of their eight children.

Mary and her family permanently immigrated to New York through Ellis Island in 1922. She spent her formative years in New York City. As a teenager, she became an enthusiastic dancer and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe, leaving New York and traveling throughout the Midwest with several notables of the times. Mary continued her love of dancing and inspired many to “dance through life”. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed all kinds of needlework, generously sharing her talents with many. Mary enjoyed having family and friends to her home, most memorably, New Year Eve parties. She enjoyed playing cards, playing until recently. Throughout her life she had a love of the ocean and was an excellent swimmer. She was a baseball enthusiast, particularly for the New York Mets. She worked at a variety of jobs throughout her life, always enjoying people she met along the way. It was her desire to instill in future generations the love of family history. She was a friend to many, particularly defending the needy. In her later years, she remained active, enthusiastic, humorous, positive and lived life to the fullest. Most of all, she was a devoted Catholic, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

It was after returning to New York on her vaudeville trip that she became engaged and married to her sweetheart and the love of her life, Eugene (Gene) Thomsen on September 8th, 1934. They spent their early married years in New York City, attending Yankee baseball games, Broadway plays, etc. They eventually settled on Long Island where they raised their four children, retiring to Florida in 1976. Their children are: Ken (Patti, deceased), Lynne (Tony) Comazzi, Brad (Phyllis), and Vince (Carolyn). Mary has eight grandchildren: Teresa (John) O’Toole, Joseph (Mary), Gina (Anthony) Hockstad, John (Ashley), Sheila (Corey), Danny, Gene (Maria), John; and eleven great-grandchildren: Tommy, Danny, Katie, Emily, Maggie, Matthew, Sara, Mary, Joseph, Vivian, and Enzo.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Gene Thomsen; one daughter, Mary; parents, sisters, and brothers.

A visitation will be held on March 12th, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, Florida 32909. A continuation of the visitation will be at 10:00 AM on March 13th, 2017 with the mass service starting at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 300 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay, Florida 32907. Burial will be on March 14th at 11:00 AM at North Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens, 4244 Madison Street, New Port Richey, Florida 34652.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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