Gertrude P. (Vaillancourt) Thomas

STERLING - Gertrude P. (Vaillancourt) Thomas, 95, died peacefully on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester. She was born in Nashua, NH the daughter of Henri J. and Rose A. (Lareine) Vaillancourt, and had lived in Sterling since 1955.

Gertrude was predeceased by her loving husband of 48 years, Arthur W. Thomas in 1993. She will be lovingly remembered by her four daughters, Juanita E. Lee and her husband, William of Pensacola, FL, Kathleen E. Potvin and her husband, Robert of Topsham, ME, Margaret A. Thomas and her partner, Dave Ciaschini of Sterling and Lisa M. Pendleton and her husband, Jeffrey of Hillsboro, NJ; five sons, Michael A. Thomas and his wife, Jean of Sterling, Clifford P. Thomas of Sterling, Frank H. Thomas and his wife, Robin of Holden, Carl A. Thomas and his wife, Frances of Princeton and Christopher A. Thomas and his wife, Tina of Gardner; her sister-in-law, Theresa Vaillancourt of Franklin; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a great great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. Gertrude was predeceased by her brother, Roland Vaillancourt, her sister, Lorraine T. Lintott and her daughter-in-law, Deborah Thomas.

Gertrude's family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at Christopher Heights for the compassionate care she received over the last year.

She worked at Iandoli's Market in Clinton for fourteen years. Her life was devoted to her family and embracing her role as wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Gertrude was a member of St. Richard of Chichester Church in Sterling where she had been a member of the Women's Guild and sang in the choir. She was an avid knitter and quilter and had enjoyed knitting caps for new born babies, making quilts for the Linus Project and prayer shawls for hospice patients.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 3rd, at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 4th at St. Richard of Chichester Church, 4 Bridge St., Sterling. Spring burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Sterling. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Richard of Chichester Church, St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 657, Sterling, MA 01564-0657.