Harriet Thomas

Harriet “Happy” Sullivan Thomas

With the deepest grief, we announce the death of our beloved mother, grandmother and friend Harriet “Happy” Sullivan Thomas, on May 2, 2021 at the Glendale Nursing Home in Glenville, NY, with her family at her side. She passed peacefully into eternal life.

Happy was raised in the bucolic Schoharie Valley, was a cheerleader, sang in the school choir, and played snare drums in the school band. Later, she was a wonderful stay-at-home mom for many years and was active in the Mothers of Twins Club. She was then employed by the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of the U.S.P.S. Postmasters club, and retired in 1996 after having last worked as the postmaster in Averill Park, NY. She then split her time between Galway, NY, and Fort Myers Beach, FL where she was a volunteer for the Lee Memorial Hospital system. She loved to travel and went to Spain, Italy, Morocco, the U.K. countries and more. She was the energizer bunny, and the question was repeatedly asked “where is Happy right now.” She also revisited her love of family genealogy, painting, sewing, and crafting with sea shells gathered by her mother over decades.

Happy was predeceased by her parents Maynard West and Helen (Deitz) Sullivan, her brother Maynard “John” Sullivan, and her son-in-law Peter A. Bazar. She was also predeceased by her former husband Richard E. Thomas with whom she had four children and who survive; Joyce T. Bazar, Richard E. (Cynthia) Thomas, Dean Thomas and Dale Thomas. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren, as well as by her nieces and nephews.

She had a beautiful smile and infectious laugh, stunning green eyes, and a heart of gold. She will be greatly missed by her family, and by her lifelong friends Joan Zaumetzer, Joyce Mirabal, Marie Bergeron, and Janny Venema.

She was a descendant of five D.A.R. Patriots, and Irish and German immigrants. Burial will be with four generations of her ancestors at the Old Stone Fort cemetery in Schoharie, NY, and with a private service to be held at a later time.

If desired, contributions may be made in her memory to the Old Stone Fort Cemetery Association at PO Box 364, Schoharie, NY 12157; or to a charity of your choice.