Helga (Arula) Thomas, 86, died Monday, March 19, 2012, at the home of her daughter, Deborah, in Essex. She was the wife of the late Carlyle W. Thomas, Jr. who died in June 2008.
Born in Tallinn, Estonia on October 24, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Adolf and Maria (Maemann) Arula. She was fluent in several languages. After living in Austria with her aunt Mary, she worked for the American Red Cross in France and later in Germany, where she met her husband, an American soldier.
For over thirty-four years, she worked at GTE Sylvania in Salem in engineering and quality control. Helga loved to read and share books. She also shared her vast recipe collection and loved to cook. Prior to Carlyle’s death in 2008, the Thomases enjoyed hosting backyard pool parties, cruising to Essex for seafood and visiting friends and family.
She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Osborne and her husband Christopher of Essex; three sons, John Thomas of Ipswich, UK, James Thomas of Beverly, Dean Thomas and his wife, Michelle of Beverly; two sisters-in-law, Alice Howell and Eleanor Sabino; grandchildren, Paul, John and David Thomas, Jaime Clake, Jamie Navas, Justin Thomas and Emily and Jonathan Osborne; seven great-grandchildren; Trevor the dog and many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Susan and siblings, Olga and Otto.
ARRANGEMENTS: According to their wishes, a joint visitation will be held honoring Helga and her late husband, Carlyle W. Thomas, Jr. on Wednesday, March 28th, in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Funeral services will be privately held at a later date. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit, www.grondinfuneralservices.com.
