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Helen Murphy Thomas, devoted to church, family

July 18, 2017

Helen Murphy Thomas, 93, of Lewes died peacefully Saturday, July 15, 2017, after a brief stay at Cadia Renaissance in Long Neck.  Daughter of Martin Terence Murphy and Nellie Dunlap Murphy, Helen was born June 21, 1924, in Boston Run, Pa.

Helen spent her early childhood among aunts, uncles and cousins of the extended Murphy, Sherry and Heffner clans in this tiny community known as a "patch" just west of Mahanoy City, Pa. Helen attended Saint Canicus School in Mahanoy City through eighth grade. When she was 14, she moved to town with her parents and brother Marty, graduating as an honor student from Mahanoy Township High School in 1941.

Helen met Morris J. Thomas of Shenandoah Heights, Pa. in 1943. They were married April 22, 1944, the day Helen described as the "happiest day of my life," in Saint Canicus Church. Fifty years later, they would renew their wedding vows at the same altar.

Church and family were the constants in Helen's life as new work opportunities for Moe took them away from the depressed economy of the Coal Region. In 1953 the Thomas family, which now included daughters Martina and Susan, moved to Levittown, Pa., where Helen and Moe were active members of Saint Michael the Archangel Parish.

In 1966, Moe's employer, Rohm and Haas Chemical Company, transferred him to Detroit, Mich. Following her own career, Helen secured a position as the office manager for American Mutual Insurance Company's Detroit office. After retiring in the early ‘80s, the couple returned to Pennsylvania. In 1985 they settled in York, Pa., where their daughter Martina lived with her husband Dr. James A. Coll and sons Shay and Timothy. Retirement offered time for travel both within and beyond the United States. Favorite places included Ireland, England, Italy, Hawaii and Israel. Parish life at Saint Joseph's of York brought new friendships, and Helen involved herself in church and community.

In 2014 Helen moved to Lewes to live with her daughter Susan Frederick and husband David. She attended Saint Jude The Apostle Church. She entered Cadia Renaissance in May 2017.

Helen loved being busy. She was an expert seamstress who could whip up a dress in a day if she had to. Her last sewing project was an Easter coat for Baby Anna, her first great-grandchild. She liked to cook and loved to entertain, especially at Christmas. She could squeeze 15 at a table for six.

Helen loved parties. To her, it was not a party if she didn't dance, sing or wear a costume. She loved family reunions, at which she could do all three. In her prime, her favorite drink was a vodka martini: "Straight up, ice on the side."

Helen thought fast, talked fast and moved fast. Her greatest challenge came as she spent her final months in a wheelchair, slowed and ultimately stopped by Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to her husband, Helen was preceded in death by her daughter Martina in 2015. She is survived by her brother Martin J. Murphy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; her daughter Susan (David) of Lewes; son-in-law James Seale Coll (Suzi) of York; grandchildren Shay Murphy Coll of York, Timothy Coll (Laura Asnaghi) of Baltimore, Md., David Frederick (Elizabeth Dolan) of Rehoboth Beach, Carrie Frederick of Lewes, Thomas Frederick of New Castle and Jack Frederick (Suzannah) of Milford; great-grandchildren Anna, Elizabeth, Catherine, David and Michael of Rehoboth Beach; and Lina, Will, Meredith and James of Milford.

Also surviving are niece Sarahnell Murphy Merlino (Richard) of Fort Lauderdale; nephews Lawrence O'Rourke (Joyce) of Orwigsburg, Pa., and Thomas O'Rourke of Shenandoah Heights; and many great-nieces and -nephews, cousins and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial for Helen will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 27, at St. Joseph Church, 2935 Kingston Road in York. Visitation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. in the narthex of the church. Burial in the Thomas family plot in Shenandoah Heights will take place at a date to be determined by the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to your local food pantry or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

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