Helene Brodeur Thomas, age 88, of Essex, Vt., died on February 9, 2026.
She was born on February 23, 1937, in St. Albans, Vt., the daughter of Louis and Gertrude (Lamothe) Brodeur. She graduated from Mary Fletcher School of Nursing in Burlington, Vt., as an RN in 1957. On September 19, 1959, she married Perley Thomas. She lived for 50 years in Barre, Vt., before moving to Pinecrest in Essex in 2018. She worked as an RN first at Heaton House (Montpelier), then at Woodridge (Berlin) for over 30 years.
She is survived by her two daughters, Ruth and John Thomas-Squire (Essex Junction, Vt.) and Lynn and Mitchell Yockelson (Annapolis, Md.); her grandson, Spike Short (Studio City, Calif.); her sisters-in law, Barbara Brodeur (Chalfont, Pa.) and Audra Burroughs (Plainfield, Vt.); and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Perley Thomas; her infant daughter Rosemary; her brother, Albert Brodeur; and stepsister, Maryann Gregoire.
Her greatest gift was making us aware of her end-of life-wishes.
A celebration of her life will happen at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Barre at a later date. Interment will be at St. Peters Cemetery, Vergennes at the family’s discretion.