Annette Thomas

THOMAS, Annette Mae – Passed away peacefully at the Port Colborne Hospital on May 5, 2016 after a gradual decline in health. Annette Mae was born on August 21, 1926 in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Her earliest years were spent with her father and her step-mother whom she adored. She would light up when she spoke of those days. During that time she was introduced to playing the organ. Her step-mother died when she was still young after which she went to live with her birth mother and relatives. She had a Christian orientation. Her marriage to George Thomas, produced six children (5 girls and 1 boy). One girl was deceased at age 3. Her five grandchildren (1deceased) and 2 great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Mae adopted the Advent message after reading the Great Controversy, a book brought home in a box of books by her husband who became very opposed to her beliefs. She left home with her five young children in order to practice her faith (when it wasn’t very fashionable to do so). She was very active in church in different rolls such as, Sabbath School Superintendent, Treasurer, and was a member of choirs where ever she attended. In Jamaica, after completing a course in Dress Design, she became a dressmaker, which later became her method of support. During this time she had many apprentices. In the late 1970’s, Annette joined her daughter Leonie and family in Canada. She became a Red Cross Homemaker in her later years. Annette moved to the U.S.A. where she lived for 12 years. She returned to Canada in the late 1990’s to live in St. Catharines where she joined the St. Catharines Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was active in the Women’s Ministry of the church. She later resided in Oakville at Heritage Green Senior Centre. In 2011, when her health declined she was moved to the Waterford Long Term Care Facility in Oakville where she resided until December 2015, and then she returned to St. Catharines. She was later hospitalized in March2016. Annette Mae was young at heart. Many of her friends were younger. She loved flowers, enjoyed gardening, cooking, caring for animals and did cross stitching and was an active member in the SDA churches that she attended. She will be fondly remembered by many young and old, near and far.