Helen J. Thomas

Acton – Mrs. Helen J. (Tomlinson) (Warner) Thomas, of Acton, formerly of Waltham, died Friday, May 10, 2013 at Emerson Hospital in Concord. She was 94.

Helen was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 6, 1918, the only child of the late Harold and Izora (Sloat) Tomlinson. She was a graduate of Waltham High School and lived most of her life in Waltham before moving to Acton ten years ago. Helen was also a longtime member of Beth Eden Baptist Church on Maple Street.

In 1954 her husband, John L. Warner, died suddenly leaving Helen to raise four children. Determined, independent and resourceful, and with the help of her parents and her friends she continued working as a nurse's aide at Waltham Hospital and later as the office manager for a local physician. Her longest period of employment came at Wells Bindery on Stearns Street in Waltham where she worked until just a month shy of her 80th birthday.

The wife of the late John L. Warner and the late Richard Thomas she leaves her children, Judith L. Miani and her husband, Frank, of Waltham, Barbara J. McBreen of Acton and Marilyn E. Rogers and her husband, David, of Littleton; her grandchildren, Frank Miani and his wife, Carri, of Georgetown, Julie Leonard and her husband, Bill, of Waltham, Barbara O'Hara and her husband, Karl, of Waltham, Sharon Errickson and her husband, Glen, of Mississippi, Shawn McBreen and his wife, Kellie, of Hudson, Thomas McBreen and his wife, Katja, of Sweden and Matthew Peaslee of Lunenburg and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Helen was also the mother of the late Ronald Warner and mother-in-law of the late Thomas McBreen.

Family and friends will honor and remember Helen's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday May 13th, from 5 to 8 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning where her Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.