Jean Thomas
OBITUARY
Jean Thomas, 80, of North Scranton, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Allied Services Skilled Nursing Center after a very painful, but incredibly courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Scranton in 1945, she was the daughter of the late Christopher and Elizabeth Evans Thomas. Jean grew up in Scranton alongside her five brothers and sisters and remained deeply connected to her family throughout her life. She was a graduate of Scranton Technical High School and earned an Associate of Science at Keystone College. She is survived by her brother Howard and wife Carol, caretaker and niece Desiree, many nieces and nephews and extended family. She is preceded in death by brothers Christopher, William, Robert, and sister Mary, and her dogs Peaches and Roxyroo.
Jean worked for many years as a librarian at the Scranton Public Library, starting while she was still in high school, and later as the first librarian to work at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library when it opened in 1987.
Jean also worked for many years at Frontier Communications. When her mother became ill, Jean became her chief caregiver and remained by her side despite facing her own health challenges. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Jean continued to work, never taking time off, balancing her responsibilities at Frontier with caring for her mother.
Throughout her life, Jean faced numerous serious health challenges – multiple cancer diagnoses, knee replacements, two pacemakers, gallbladder removal, a significant blood clot in her leg, and pneumonia many times over. Each time, through the grace of God, she came through it smiling and never stopped being there for her family and friends. Her faith in God is what saw her through.
Jean was deeply active in her church community. She sang in the church choir, typed and printed the weekly church bulletin, made Welsh cookies for bake sales, and served on several church committees. Her faith was not just something she believed – it was something she lived.
Jean did not have children of her own, but her nieces and nephews were, in every way that mattered, her children. She was known by her nieces and nephews – and practically every child she met as NeNe. The name started years ago when her youngest nieces and nephews, still babies, tried to learn how to say the word Jeannie; not yet having the benefit of teeth, NeNe was the best they could do, and the name stayed with her for the rest of her life.
Jean was the constant in her family. She was the one aunt and relative who showed up for everything – every Christmas, every Easter, every Mother’s Day dinner at Tom and Jerry’s Restaurant and later at the Montdale Country Club, every Memorial Day party, every 4th of July celebration, every graduation party, baseball games, piano recitals, every birthday dinner. Jean never missed anything her nieces and nephews were involved in as they grew up. Even years later, when she was too sick to attend, she always managed to call and wish you a Happy Birthday or a Happy Easter, and ask how you are doing. Jean never had a bad word to say about anyone, and always offered encouragement and support.
Jean enjoyed traveling and loved going to the beach in North Carolina with her cousin Betty. She treasured time spent with her longtime friend Joyce and her neighbor Rose, and all of her friends too numerous to mention. She loved to feed her family and friends and perfected her mother’s famous lemon meringue pie recipe. She also enjoyed arts and crafts and a good game of bingo.
Even in her final years at Green Ridge Care Center and Allied Services, Jean’s kindness remained constant. A recent story serves as a great example of who Jean is. Her elderly roommate Lucy loved Jean, and Jean loved Lucy. From the very first day their rooms were across from one another, Jean would go over to Lucy’s room to check on her. She would visit, and Lucy felt safe. It eventually reached the point where Jean would have her tray brought into Lucy’s room and they would eat together. It only seemed fitting that when they later moved rooms, they were placed together again. Many nights, when they shared the same room, Lucy would call out, Are you over there, Jean? and Jean would reply, I’m right here with you, Lucy. She was always reassuring Lucy that she was safe. This is who Jean is.
The most important thing she taught people is how to live and love with passion and forgiveness – even if no one else sees it.
Most people, when they pass on, they have a will prepared and leave behind lots of stuff – houses, cars, estates, money, and people jockey for position wondering what they’re going to get. Jean didn’t have much to give away, several bouts of cancer and various health ailments made it impossible for her to work in her later years, and she found herself having to rely on others; almost everything she had went to pay her numerous medical bills and for her cancer treatment. But Jean reminded us every day that all you need is love. All the material things in the world – houses, cars, job titles, success – mean nothing without love. Jean always had, and still has, love in her heart for others – so that’s what she passes on to her family, that’s her last will and testament; her love is offered to all of her nieces and nephews and family and friends, and her last wish before she passed is that everyone forget the problems of the past and treat each other with love and compassion. And if you’re reading this obituary, and you didn’t know Jean, she offers that love to you on this day too. Pass it on to someone who needs it.
A celebration of Jean’s life will be held Monday, February 23rd at 7pm at Solfanelli Funeral Home, 1030 N. Main Ave., Scranton. Friends and family may pay their respects from 5 – 7 PM before the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to TT’s Rescue Squad in Taylor or Animal Care Associate’s in Scranton.
Please visit the funeral home website to leave an online condolence.
Jean Thomas
February 15, 2026