Mary Thomas

Mary M. (Frank) Thomas, age 68, of Perham , MN , died Sunday, June 29, 2008 , of pancreatic cancer. Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, July 3, 2008 , beginning at 11:00 am at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, Perham, with Father Joe Herzing officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 2, at the church, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm and one hour prior to the funeral.

Also known as “Lovie”, Mary was born on January 9, 1940 , in Shakopee , MN , the daughter of Math and Margaret (Lander) Frank. She was a proud graduate of the College of St. Benedict (Class of ’61), her second home. She was the former principal of St. Henry’s Area School, Perham, MN, (1980-2006) and formerly taught in Pierz, MN, (1963-1968) and Bishop England High School, Charleston, SC (1961-1963). On June 26, 1965 , Mary was united in marriage to Joseph Thomas in Shakopee. Joe died on August 10, 1992 .

Mary was an Oblate with the Monastery of St. Benedict, St. Joseph , MN , a member of the Christian Mothers of St. Henry’s Parish, Perham, and the Holy Family Council of the Catholic Aid Association. She served for more than twenty years on the Planning Commission for the City of Perham and was a charter board member of the Perham Area Community Center . Mary was also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Perham Area Foundation and served on the Fraternal Advisory Council for the Catholic Aid Association.

Mary is survived by two sons, David (Jonna) Thomas, St. Cloud, MN; Frank (Julie) Thomas, Naples, FL; and a daughter, Laura (Rob Lewis) Thomas, Minneapolis, MN; as well as six grandchildren, Ian Thomas, Nicholas Thomas, Duncan Thomas, Alison Thomas, Evelyn Lewis, and Joseph Lewis.

Preceding Mary in death are her parents; her husband, Joseph; and a brother, John Frank.

Memorials are preferred to St. Henry’s Area School , 253 2 ^nd St. SW , Perham , MN 56573 ; the Monastery of St. Benedict, 104 Chapel Lane , St. Joseph , MN 56374 ; or the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Foundation, (pcaware.org).