Former trailblazing nurse Barbara Thomas dies at 81

Barbara Jean Thomas

Former East Rockaway resident Barbara Jean Thomas died on Feb. 13 at Berkshire Medical Center in Massachusetts. She was 81.

Thomas was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 21, 1940. She was the daughter of the late Elmer E. and Jean G. Morris. She attended the local schools of East Rockaway and Lee, Mass., and was a 1958 graduate of Lee High School. Continuing her education, she earned a nursing degree in 1961 from the former Henry W. Bishop III Memorial School of Nursing in Pittsfield, Mass.

After graduation, she was employed at the former Medfield State Hospital, as one of the first nine registered nurses to work at the hospital, where she stayed until 1965. She then worked as a registered nurse at the Fairview Hospital until the early 1990’s. After her employment at Fairview, she worked as a teacher’s aide and special education aide at Otis Consolidated School. She then went on to work as a medical assistant at Suburban Medical Center in Lee until her retirement in 2001.

Thomas had a “green thumb” and frequently enjoyed planting and maintaining her flowerbeds. She also had a knack for keeping in touch with loved ones and those she just met with either beautifully written letters, phone calls or her creative texts. Additionally, she enjoyed going for rides and looked forward to the many adventures she shared with her sister-in-law Lisa.

Thomas was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law and friend.

She is survived by her two daughters, Brenda J. Johnson and her husband, Christopher, of Chester, Conn., and Denise M. Harwood and her husband, John, of East Otis; her son, Michael J. Thomas and his wife, Catherine, of West Hartford, Conn.; her five grandchildren, Elise M. Lewis, Naomi H. Cosmus, John “Jack” T. Cosmus, Laurel A. Thomas and Jacob R. Thomas; her great-grandchild, Everet J. Lewis; her brother, Bruce Morris and wife, Judy; her sister, Nancy Bailey and husband, John; former husband Gerald Thomas; sisters-in-law: Lisa “Gidney” C. Thomas and Donna L. Simmons and her husband, Thomas; brother-in-law Ronald “James” Thomas; and many wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews.

Thomas’s wake was scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Kelly Funeral Home in Massachusetts. Memorial services were held right after, and her loved ones planned a private burial for the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Henry W. Bishop Memorial Alumnae Association Scholarship in care of Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238.

Those who would like to leave a message of condolence or share pictures with the family, visit kellyfuneralhome.net.