Suzie Thomas

THOMAS – Janet Suzanne Dierling Thomas, “SUZIE”, 70, born March 26, 1946 in Summerhill, daughter of the late Earl A. and Mary Rita (Shrift) Dierling. Preceded in death by parents; father and mother-in-law, Donald and Sophia Thomas; son-in-law, Ed Minahan; brother-in-law, John Thomas; sister-in-law, Betty (Thomas) Patterson; grandparents and many wonderful aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and close friends.
Survived by husband of 50 years, Kenneth R. Thomas, who she married on January 21, 1967; daughters, Renee Marie, wife of Bob Brett; and Holly Sue Minahan; son, Ross David, married to Lisa George, all of Ruckersville, Virginia; grandchildren, Nicholas (Lisa) Minahan, Oliver Minahan, Cooper and Seth Brett and Bailey, Ella and Kennan Thomas; sister of Joyce L. (Denny) Cobaugh and Ed “Diz” (Eleanor) Dierling; Godchildren, Brenda (Dierling) Maslak, Brian Madison, Bill Thomas, Todd Cobaugh, Beverly Blanchetti, Presley Dougherty, and Bethany Grubb; and Godmother, Marian Madison, Godfather, Ray Shrift; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and dear cousins.
Graduated from Adams-Summerhill High School class of 1964. Coordinated all of the class reunions and family reunions as well.
Loved to go on cruises with Kenny, her family and many of their friends. She escorted bus trips to New York City for 20 years every April and December.
She worked as a cashier at Penn Traffic, was a part-time postal worker at Summerhill Post Office, teller at Summit Bank and Laurel Bank, Secretary/Treasurer for Summerhill Borough from 1977 to 1988, waitress at Morris Tavern, travel agent for Dreams Unlimited and Lodestar Tours, substitute aide and secretary for Forest Hills School District, was a legal secretary for McKenrick and McKenrick Law Office, Ebensburg from 1989 until 2009.
Besides enjoying being a wife and mother, Suzie enjoyed many extracurricular activities. She sang and played an Upright Bass in a Bluegrass Band called “Swampgrass”, played clarinet in the Forest Hills Community Band, sang in the Johnstown Symphony Chorus and Blair County Chorus, participated in the Madrigal at Mt. Aloysius, and in plays at Cresson Lake Playhouse.
Suzie was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Summerhill, all of her life where she sang in the choir, was a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and member of the Altar Rosary Society and Parish Council.
She was a member of the GBU, Summerhill Social Club, St. Michael American Legion, Summerhill Vol. Fire Company Auxiliary and South Fork Lions Club where she was secretary and past president. She tapped with the Windber Seniorettes and ushered for Cresson Lake Playhouse and the Pasquerilla Center where she also sang with the chorus for many years.
She lived her life to the fullest and loved her family and friends. She never met a person that she didn’t like. She loved to send Christmas, birthday and anniversary cards. She called herself a “cardaholic” and was well-known for wearing her many “wobbly bobbers”.
For 40 years every December, she and Kenny invited people to their home to go Christmas caroling throughout Summerhill no matter what the weather was. She was quite the “social director” for many activities. She organized all the Madison Street “Back to School” street parties, Christmas dinner and visiting. Suzie and Ken enjoyed the years they spent in Naples, Florida with their old friends and new friends that they made. The fishing was great and they enjoyed the “Happy Hours” at the Tiki Hut.
Friends will be received from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Charles O. Dimond Funeral Home, Inc., South Fork. Vigil will be held 6 p.m. Friday. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church, by Father Leon Hont, OSB. Inurnment, St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Germany.
www.DimondFuneralHome.com