Obituary of Elizabeth T. Thomas

Elizabeth T. Thomas, a lifelong resident of Columbia County, passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2014 following a courageous battle with leukemia. Born on August 3, 1943 to Mollie and Arthur Schoenherr, Elizabeth grew up on the Kinderhook Creek in Malden Bridge and attended New Lebanon Central High School. She would later move to Chatham Center where she and her husband raised their children. A stay-at-home mom and active member of the community, Elizabeth volunteered her time for many years serving as a poll worker and participated in Chatham Central School District activities where her children attended school. In later years, Elizabeth was employed at Sisters of the Resurrection in Castleton where she enjoyed her job cooking for the Sisters, and at the Faith and Love Mission in East Schodack assisting volunteers in serving the needy and underprivileged. As active members of the Kinderhook Elks Lodge 2530 for many years, Elizabeth and her husband, James, were committed to their community and participated in numerous local charity events. Elizabeth was an avid reader, and was interested in local and national politics and current events. Her passions were her animals, which she considered “her family,” gardening and cooking for her friends, which she continued to do in her home in Malden Bridge until she became ill. Elizabeth is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, James R. Thomas. She is survived by her three children, Morgan Thomas of Thousand Oaks, California, Deidra Spano of Yonkers, and Keira Ruetz of Delmar, as well as her six beloved grandchildren Derek, Parker, McKenzi, Mathew, Sean and Carly, and her sisters, Mimi Schoof of Richmond, Virginia and Connie Tompkins of St. Louis, Missouri. Elizabeth will be remembered by her family at a private memorial in the spring. Donations may be made in her memory to your local humane society.