Johanna Gruener Thomas

Thursday, February 11, 2010

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Lyndeborough, New Hampshire – Johanna Gruener Thomas, 67, died at Community Hospice House, Merrimack, NH on February 3, 2010. She lived in Arlington, Virginia, before moving to Lyndeborough in 1968.

Mrs. Thomas was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1943, the daughter of the late Margaret Velma (Hamilton) and John Gustav Gruener. She was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and earned her master’s at Antioch. She was a reading recovery teacher at Peterborough Elementary School for nine years, retiring in 2008. Prior to that she taught at Hillsborough Elementary School and Hancock Elementary School.

She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Hancock and its Bell Choir. She enjoyed antiques and photography, taking many photos of covered bridges, winter scenes, the Chicken Barn in Keene, and of The Old Man of the Mountain, just before it fell.

She is survived by her husband, Lowell S. Thomas, with whom she would have celebrated 45 years of marriage in June; two daughters, Priscilla “Pepper” Legro of Henniker, New Hampshire, and Margaret “Peggy” Gonzalez of Waterboro, Maine; her sister, Susan Pearlman of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; and two nephews Andrew and Stephen Pearlman.

Calling hours were held on Monday, February 8, 2010, from 6 to 8 PM, at Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord Street, Peterborough, New Hampshire. The funeral was held on Tuesday, February 9, at 1 PM at the First Congregational Church of Hancock, Main Street, Hancock, New Hampshire. The Reverend Judith Copeland, Pastor, officiated.

Burial will be in the spring in Francestown Cemetery #3.

Gifts in her memory may be made to Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054. To send a condolence to the family, please visit www.jellisonfh.com.

Jellison Funeral Home, Peterborough, New Hampshire, is assisting the family with the arrangements.