Bar Harbor - F. Patricia 'Pat' Thomas, 86, died peacefully on December 20, 2014 at MDI Hospital. Pat was born in Bar Harbor on August 9, 1928 to Carroll and Sadie (Daigle) Frost.
She graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1946 and began her career as a legal secretary with the Smith & Fenton law firm, and later, after many years at home raising her children, with Shaw's Law Office for over 25 years. Pat married Earle Thomas on October 10, 1947 and they had five children together. She did an amazing job of working inside/outside the home, full-time, while raising her family. Pat loved listening to music, singing and playing the piano; was a talented knitter and enjoyed reading. She was a member of St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church.
Her daughter Susan reflects: “Mom was the most giving, forgiving and strongest woman I've ever known, beautiful inside and out. She was also the reason I sing in the church choir. There was always music in our home, Mom had a beautiful voice and would always harmonize with it. I always wished I could do that and now sing alto at St. Saviour's.”
Pat's grandson, Aaron, shared that her legacy was one of Kindness. "She faced many challenges and hardships in her life; those can become a sort of vise grip, and slowly tighten around our compassionate, caring, and patient cores. 'Nannie' could have hardened her core to keep it from being squeezed down to nothing. She could have become bitter and resentful for her lot in life. Instead, light and love remained. Out of everything I've seen with our family, what I have always seen with the most clarity and definition is that light, love, patience and compassion were at Nannie's core."
Her greatest accomplishment was her beautiful family. Pat devoted her life to raising her kids on her own. And, even with limited resources, always opened her heart and home to the neighborhood kids and cousins, finding enough to put meals together for whoever was around at mealtime.
Pat is survived by her children, son, Donald 'Jesse' Thomas and wife Brenda of Ellsworth; four daughters, Susan Blaisdell, Laura Thomas, Cindy Flye all of Bar Harbor, and Judith 'Judy' Lawson and partner Bruce Jalbert of Ellsworth; six grandchildren, David Thomas and wife Rebecca of New Gloucester, Chad Thomas and partner Suzanne Bates of Hamden, CT, Jeremy Blaisdell of Trenton, Erik Flye and partner Marena Blanchard of Windham, Aaron Flye and partner Nicole Edmunds of Farmington and only granddaughter, Jessica Flye of Augusta; brothers, Donald Frost and wife Mollie of Bar Harbor and Robert Frost and wife Grace of Florida; and many nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by her parents, Carroll and Sadie (Daigle) Frost; brothers, Carroll ('Bud'), Jr. and Richard; sisters, Connie and Betty; and former husband, Earle Thomas. In addition to her immediate family, 'Nana Pat' will be affectionately remembered by Dencie and Mike McEnroe and children Cole and Jozette of West Tremont; 'adopted' daughter Annemarie Saunders of Bethel, dear friend and caregiver, Yvonne Tabb of Bar Harbor; and all the 'neighborhood kids' who knew they were always welcome in her homes on both Bowles and Michigan Avenue when growing up.
At Pat's request, there will be no visiting hours. A private graveside service will be held at the Ledgelawn Cemetery in the spring of 2015. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to Island Connections, 15 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com