Maria Elena Thomas of Martinez, California, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2021 in Tampa, Florida after a long battle with dementia.
Maria Elena Hernandez was born in Jalisco, Mexico to Felipe and Josefina Hernandez on July 27, 1952. She was a devoted and loving wife to Richard Andrew Thomas and a nurturing and proud mother to her four children, Erika, Richard, Irian, and Cassandra. Family and God were everything to Maria Elena and she spent her life raising her children and staying devoted to the Catholic faith.
Maria Elena is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, parents, Felipe and Josefina, and siblings, Emeterio, Felipe, Guadalupe, and Maria.
Maria Elena is survived by her children: Erika Thomas, Richard and Jennifer Thomas, Irian and Jake Johnson, Cassandra Thomas; her brothers and sisters: Fructuoso, Maria Rosario Gonzalez, and Juan Carlos Hernandez; her grandchildren: Thiadus Thomas-Jones, Xavier Thomas-Jones, Elexis Thomas-Taylor, Elyna Thomas-Taylor, Madison Thomas, Eysaiah Thomas-Taylor, Mason Thomas, Ethan Thomas-Taylor, and London Thomas-Jones; and her great-grandchildren: Iris Thomas, Luna Rose Thomas Moten, and Kayden Wilson.
Maria Elena had a philanthropic spirit and helping those less fortunate was something she was passionate about. In lieu of flowers, her children would like loved ones to consider making a gift to one of the designated organizations below.
Dementia Society of America:
https://bit.ly/3bdLmk0 PetSmart Charities:
https://bit.ly/33CcvsF Fisher House Foundation:
https://bit.ly/3uvOZtk Donor acknowledgements can be sent to:
Cassandra Thomas
4207 S. Dale Mabry Highway
Apt: 6206
Tampa, FL 33611
Maria Elena’s children wish to extend their sincere thanks to relatives of both the Thomas and Hernandez family; Caregiver Emilia Isla; Caregiver Cindy Morris; LifePath Hospice and the Plum Team; Blount & Curry Funeral Home; and the countless loved ones that have supported and extended their prayers over us during this difficult time.
About the Dementia Society of America To enhance the quality of life for those living with Dementia, caregivers, and the community!
Educate. To significantly raise the awareness and decrease the stigma in America to the spectrum of conditions collectively known as Dementia, through education.
Provide. To make available, non-medical, easy-to-understand Dementia awareness materials and resources for individuals, small businesses, larger corporations, civic organizations, and communities-at-large.
Recognize. To encourage those who: provide exemplary Dementia caregiving, counseling, engagement, and even nutritional support; develop prevention initiatives; and create innovative products, services, and solutions.
About PetSmart Charities PetSmart Charities is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.
About the Fisher House Foundation Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veterans families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $500 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.