Mary Jane Thomas

On Sunday, December 20, 2020, Mary Jane Thomas of Euclid, Ohio passed away at age 93, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She leaves behind three children to mourn: Wendell A. Thomas, Yasmine J. Thomas, and Linda R. Thomas-Cunningham, as well as ten grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren (with an additional two on the way), four great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, and a host of other relatives. She was preceded in death by her loving husband James W. Thomas, daughter Diane M. Thomas, mother, father, three sisters, and three brothers.

Born Maria Vincenza Fantin in Lorain, Ohio on June 3, 1927, Mary Jane as she became known, was the second eldest of nine children born to Maria (Fogliatto) and Frank Fantin. Growing up Roman Catholic, Mary Jane received the sacraments of baptism, first Holy Communion, and confirmation and attended Catholic schools graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1945.

Mary Jane met James Thomas in the early 1950s and married on June 21, 1953, in Summit County Ohio. They relocated to Chicago Illinois where Wendell was born in late 1954. After a short time in Chicago, they moved back to Ohio, settling in Cleveland where Yasmine, Diane, and Linda were born. Mom, as she became affectionately known to all of the children’s friends and later the grandchildren, worked in the accounting field for several companies, retiring from PNC in 1993. After retirement, she worked tirelessly for Parents of Murdered Children (PMOC) as their treasurer and went to court with many families to seek justice in the murder of their loved ones. As a commemoration, she sent the families cards on the anniversaries of their loss.

Mom loved unconditionally and was loved by all for her kindness and accepting nature. She was an avid reader, liked to travel, enjoyed crossword and other puzzles but loved nothing more than spending time with her family. Mom was a loving and supportive mother/grandmother and will be greatly missed. Comfort is taken in knowing she led a life well lived for she made a huge impact on so many. The family humbly requests that donations be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church 140 Richmond Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44143. Private Interment will immediately follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Social distancing and wearing a mask will be required. The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://sjceuclid.com/livestream-funerals.