Jean A Thomas

JEAN A. THOMAS (NEE HYDERA), OF MANAHAWKIN, N.J., AND FORMERLY OF SHAMOKIN, PA, DIED PEACEFULLY IN HER HOME AFTER A SHORT ILLNESS, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017. SHE WAS 91 YEARS OLD. BORN JANUARY 3, 1926 IN SHAMOKIN, PENNSYLVANIA TO ADAM HYDERA AND NELLIE (NEE GRANOVICH) HYDERA, JEAN WAS THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF 14 CHILDREN. IN HER TEENS, JEAN WORKED AT THE ARROW SHIRT FACTORY IN SHAMOKIN. THIS IS WHERE JEAN BEGAN HER CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS. JEAN WAS A MASTER OF HER CRAFT. IN 1964, JEAN WAS ASKED TO CREATE TIME-PERIOD COSTUMES FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN FOR SHAMOKIN’S 100TH CENTENNIAL PARADE. JEAN’S DESIGNS WENT ON TO WIN MANY AWARDS FOR HER CREATIVITY AND SUPERIOR CRAFTMANSHIP. IN 1967, JEAN AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO FORKED RIVER NEW JERSEY TO OPEN LACEY FABRIC SHOP WITH HER SISTER, MILLIE HILL; WHICH THE SISTERS WOULD GO ON TO OPERATE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

JEAN’S LIFE-LONG PASSION FOR FASHION, DESIGN AND SEWING WAS UNPARALLELED. JEAN COULD ALWAYS BE FOUND WITH A NEEDLE IN HER HAND OR BEHIND A SEWING MACHINE. JEAN SPECIALIZED IN DRAPERIES, ALTERATIONS, COSTUMES FOR ALL OCCASIONS AND EVEN BAG PIPE COVERINGS. MOST RECENTLY SHE ENJOYED MAKING INTRICATE VICTORIAN-STYLE STOCKINGS AND COMPLIMENTING PARASOLS.

JEAN MADE AN INDELIBLE MARK ON ALL WHO KNEW HER. SHE WAS AN AVID JOKESTER AMONGST HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. JEAN WAS ALWAYS QUICK-WITTED AND OUT FOR A LAUGH. SHE HAD THE DEADPAN, ONE-LINERS, DOWN TO A SCIENCE. THERE WAS NEVER A DRY EYE AROUND JEAN WHEN SHE EVOKED SIDE-SPLITTING LAUGHTER FROM ALL THOSE WITHIN EARSHOT. JEAN WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

JEAN IS SURVIVED BY HER LOVING DAUGHTERS, ALEXIS BUNT (RAYMOND BUNT JR.), OF SPRING MOUNT, PA & DENISE JOHNSON (SCOTT JOHNSON), OF MANAHAWKIN, NJ. JEAN IS ALSO SURVIVED BY HER THREE GRANDCHILDREN, ALEXIS MARIE BUNT, RYAN JOHNSON, AND MATTHEW JOHNSON, TWO STEP-GRANDCHILDREN, LINDA (“SISSY”) BUNT AND RAYMOND BUNT III, AND TWO STEP-GREAT-GRAND CHILDREN, TAYLOR CASWELL AND IAN CASWELL IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS. JEAN WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER BELOVED HUSBAND OF 65 YEARS, ROBERT P. THOMAS.

FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, FROM 4PM – 7PM AT THOS L. SHINN FUNERAL HOME: 10 HILLIARD DR., MANAHAWKIN, NJ 08050. BURIAL WILL BE MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016, AT 1PM AT THE NORTHUMBERLAND MEMORIAL PARK, RT. 61, SUNBURY, PA 17801. CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO: www.shinnfuneralhome.com