Patricia Thomas

Patricia Thomas, loving mother, wife and aunt, of Ambler, Pa, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021, at the age of 82, in Lansdale, Pa.

Patricia was born in Philadelphia, Pa, to Francis and Margaret McCabe on April 27, 1939. She attended and graduated from Hallahan Catholic High School in 1957. She met her future husband, Ronald Thomas, at a high school dance and they were married on September 16, 1961, at Corpus Christi Church in Philadelphia. She moved to Ambler with her husband, Ronald, in 1969, a place she would call home for the rest of her life. After many years of trying to conceive a child, she would eventually give birth to her son, Philip, on February 4, 1976, making her a proud mother.

She enjoyed traveling, and every summer, Patricia would spend time at the Lurae Motel in North Wildwood, N.J. with her family, hitting the beach, the motel pool, and the boardwalk. She also vacationed in Hawaii and Walt Disney World. Patricia made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, in the summer of 1987 with her husband, Ronald, her son, Philip, and her sister, Regina Drebes.

In 1988 she was selected to play Mary Ambler for Ambler’s 100th Anniversary parade, a role she was proud of. Because of her uncanny resemblance to Mary, she was asked to reprise the role several times over the years, most notably in 2009 and 2010.

Patricia loved movies, particularly, What About Bob? Weekend at Bernies, Forest Gump, The Karate Kid, the Back to the Future trilogy, and T.V. shows like The Goldbergs and The Waltons. As a teen, she was a fan of Elvis Presley and ‘50s rock n’ roll and loved to go out dancing with her husband whenever she had the chance. In her later years, she developed a fondness for Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. She also loved the song “Cake by the Ocean,” citing it as one of her favorite songs of all time and playing it on her Amazon Echo every chance she got.

Patricia was dedicated to her faith. As a devout Catholic, she became active in her parish of Saint Anthony’s. She attended prayer meetings regularly and had an incredible gift of proclaiming the Word of God as a lector for over thirty years. A role she was proud of, and excellent at. She worked as a bookkeeper for M. Johnson and Sons paving contractors for more than forty years, and for Tony Caffarella C.P.A for approximately thirty-two years until her retirement in 2017.

Patricia had a strong work ethic and genuinely cared for those around her, often putting others above herself. She is survived by her son, Philip, and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Saint Anthony’s church (259 Forest Avenue, Ambler PA, 19002) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 with the funeral mass beginning at 10:30. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ambler. Arrangements are by Shaeff-Myers Funeral Home.

Patricia was a truly exceptional woman that was loved by many. The world will be a darker place without her.

She will be greatly missed.