Nancy Ellen Thomas

Portsmouth, RI - Nancy Ellen Sanborn Thomas, 56, of 151 Pear Street, Portsmouth, lost her two year battle with cancer on Monday, November 29, 2004 at home. She was the wife of Michael Thomas. The daughter of Marian Watkins Sanborn of Naples, FL and the late Fredrick Sanborn, she was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 17th, 1948. Nancy met her husband Mike while attending Oregon State University. Nancy was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. They were married in Palatine, IL on December 27, 1969. Nancy devoted her life to her family, enduring the added stresses of Mike?s long absences due to Navy sea duty. The family moved to Portsmouth, RI on Navy orders during the summer of 1977, and ended up staying because they felt it was a good place to raise their family. Nancy?s time was taken up by volunteering at Hathaway elementary school and Portsmouth Middle School. She was also a Cub Scout Den Mother. When her sons entered high school, Nancy reentered the work force using her compassionate nature in local dental and vets offices. Nancy returned to college in the fall of 1986, graduating Suma Cum Laude from Roger Williams College with a bachelor degree in Computer Information Systems in 1989, the same year her older son, Eric graduated from high school. Nancy worked for General Dynamics Electric Boat in Middletown, Aquidneck Management Associates and retired from Raytheon of Portsmouth in Sept 2003.Nancy and Mike enjoyed outings with the Manhattan Canoe and Ski Club. She enjoyed being outside tending to her flower beds and vegetable garden, baking cookies with her Grandson, and baking the family?s favorite pies. Nancy was most proud of being a great Mother to her close family but found her true calling in life as a grandmother. Her family will miss her terribly but she will dwell in their hearts always and will never be forgotten. She leaves behind her husband Mike, son Eric and daughter-in-law Tara with grandson Cameron, all of Portsmouth, son Chad of Tiverton, her mother Marian Sanborn of Naples, FL, her brother Frederick Sanborn of McHenry, IL and her sister Cynthia Nyquist of Burr Ridge, IL. Her funeral will be held Friday, December 3, 2004, at 11:00 AM in St. Columba Berkeley Memorial Chapel, 55 Vaucluse Avenue, Middletown. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery Portsmouth. The family requests donations be made in Nancys name in lieu of flowers to Gallbladder Cancer Research at MGH, c/o MGH Development Office, 100 Charles River Plaza, Suite 600, Boston, Ma 02114.Arrangements by Connors Funeral Home 55 West Main Road Portsmouth, RI 02871.