Cecelia Elizabeth Thomas

She was the loving wife of Robert for 20 years. Dear mother of Patricia (Charles Warren) and Marilyn Casey. Fond stepmother of Matt (Chris), John (Pat), Greg (Eva Lebovic), Michael (Derri), and Kathy Thomas (Dave Sutton). Devoted Grandmother of Rachel and Emily Warren, Mark, Caroline, Ian (Heidie), Stephen (Katie), Meghan (Eric Saum), Henri, Ryan (Chris), and Eric Thomas, and Jennifer, Patrick, Erin, and Caitlin Sutton, and great grandmother of nine. Ceil is survived by her loving brother, John Carriveau (Donna), her sister-in-law Veronica Casey, many nieces and nephews, and her dear friends Doris, Helen, Joyce, Debbie, and too many others to count. She was preceded in death by her wonderful sister Patsy Carriveau Trear.

After graduating from St. Gregory's High School and then earning her college degree at Marygrove in 1944, Ceil worked as a social worker for the Red Cross and for Wayne County. She married Frank Casey in 1948 and they had two daughters, Patsy and Marilyn, before moving to their new home in Redford. She earned several additional degrees from Wayne State University, and transformed herself into a kindergarten teacher in Dearborn and Livonia. The final stage of her career was with the South Redford Schools as a school social worker. Her retirement party was memorable as her colleagues and friends regaled the crowd with "Ceil stories." She built a retirement home in Spruce, Michigan, where she lived near her many Carriveau cousins until she moved to Virginia to be closer to her daughters Marilyn and Patsy, her son-in-law Charles Warren, and her grandaughters Rachel and Emily Warren.

In a characteristically and delightfully surprising move, Ceil married an old friend, Bob Thomas, in 1993 and became part of the extended Thomas family. Ceil and Bob lived in Rochester and later Interlochen, but always spent the cold winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama as snow birds. Bob and Ceil bought a beautiful home in Foley, just north of Gulf Shores, when they were in the 80's and still going strong. All of Bob's family, including his sisters Mary and Margaret, and his nephew Mike Scott (Meg), have all been wonderful friends to Ceil over the last part of her life. .

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 9 pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd., Livonia. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday 10:30 am at St. Edith Church, 15089 Newburgh Rd., Livonia. Friends may visit the church beginning at 10 am.