Obituary of Gail J. Thomas

WATERBURY – Our sister, Gail Jennie Thomas, age 76, passed from this life on Monday, April 3, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital after losing her courageous battle to survive a devastating stroke. She was already a breast cancer survivor. Gail was born September 12, 1940 in Waterbury, CT. She is the daughter of the late Paul C. and Frederica E. (Pryor) Thomas. She had lived in Los Angeles, New York City and Sayreville, NJ before returning home to Waterbury to spend her retirement close to her family. Gail worked most of her career in the Entertainment Insurance business, retiring from the firm of Tannenbaum Harbor of NYC in 2011. She had seen the towers fall from her office on 9/11. She loved her home which she called “the cottage”, and her rescue dog Oliver. She enjoyed reconnecting with her friends from Hopeville and Wilby High School. For three seasons she played on the Waterbury Seniors Duck Pin Bowling league. Just prior to her illness, she began swimming several days a week at the Naugatuck YMCA. She loved reading, cooking, entertaining in her home and vacationing on Cape Cod and in Bar Harbor, ME. Gail’s family would like to thank the staff at River Glen in Southbury for their kindness and compassion. Gail is survived by her siblings Sandra Thomas Reynolds and her husband Eugene of Waterbury, Karen Randall and her husband Allan of Waterbury, and Paul C. Thomas and his wife Martha of Waterbury; her nieces Elyne Pryor Burns, Frederica "Rikki" Crea and her husband Martin Huddart, Kristen Barone and her husband Joseph, and Nicole Judith Thomas, and Gayle Ann Gentry; her great nieces Katelyn Boisclair, Elizabeth Campbell and her husband Michael, Lauren Dean and her husband Jordan, and Katarina Elyne Crea; her aunt Betty Pryor Mraz, her uncle Robert Pryor and aunt Margaret Pryor; as well as numerous cousins. Arrangements – Calling hours will be held on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Waterbury, 9 Holmes Ave. Funeral services and burial will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Gail’s family requests that donations in Gails name be made to an animal shelter of your choice.