This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BUB.2ACI/5968 Message Board Post: Mrs. Emma Thomas 1936 Mrs. Emma THOMAS was born in the town of Holland, N.Y. January 5, 1868, a daughter of Norman W. and Almira WAGNER HOPPER. On May third, 1885, she was a united in marriage to Lewis F. THOMAS. To this union were born seven children. For many years Mr. and Mrs. THOMAS resided in Hume. Besides performing the multitude of tasks that naturally fall to the mother of a large family, Mrs. THOMAS gave a largely of her time in helping the families who needed her as a domestic nurse. 25 years ago our nearest hospitals were at Warsaw or Olean. Trained nurses were not easily procured. So far as the writer knows, Mrs. THOMAS always responded when asked for help. She was a friendly neighbor, an untiring worker, and a good wife and mother. During the past year she has been in poor health. Her strong body gradually wasted away until only a shadow of her former self remained. About five weeks ago she became seriously ill and passed away on Thursday, January 9 at her home in Centerville. She is survived by her husband; three sons: Ralph of Hume, Lawrence and Gordon Centerville; two daughters: Mrs. Helen MATHEWSON, Ridgeway, Pa., Mrs. Alyse EGGERT, Kenmore; a sister: Mrs. Joseph KUHN, Batavia, and a half sister, Mae HOPPER, Conneant, Ohio, a half brother, Forest HOPPER, Buffalo, and a step mother, Mrs. Eva HOPPER, Conneant, Ohio. Two other sons, Dee who died in France in 1918, and Ben, who died 1932 have preceded her in death. The funeral was conducted by Rev. F.H. WRIGHT, of Houghton. The large group of friends who gathered in the family home testified to the circle of acquaintances and friends in which the deceased moved. Death has claimed another from our midst. Loved by her children, husband and friends, tenderly cared for and respected, she has gone on into eternity. May God help us all to find comfort and help in Him. [Northern Allegany Observer obituary, transcribed by Louise Y. Mills, 2003, from Cora Lahr's scrapbooks, Fillmore, NY]