Virginia "Cookie" (Cole) Thomas

Virginia "Cookie" (Cole) Thomas died on December 7, 2024.

Virginia was born in Pittsburgh on September 24, 1930, the youngest of three children of Harry S. and Virginia (Rieland) Cole. Cookie grew up in the Morningside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, graduated as class valedictorian from St. Raphael's High School in East Liberty, and graduated from Duquesne University, where she majored in education with an accent on mathematics. Cookie was selected Miss Duquesne Duke of 1950. At Duquesne, she met James Richard "Jim" Thomas, and they married in 1953.

After teaching school for a year, then working at Westinghouse as a geophysicist, Cookie settled down with Jim in West Homestead, and made a home for five children. Cookie and Jim were active in St. Therese Church in Munhall. Cookie is remembered by many Pittsburgh Catholics for starting a folk group when St. Therese introduced English masses and contemporary music. Cookie and Jim were also active in the National Cursillo Movement (natl-cursillo.org).

Cookie is survived by five children, Michael (Adrienne) Thomas, Claudia (Christa Teno) Thomas, Mary Thomas, Chad (Myrna) Thomas, and Ellen (Bill) Shifko; one honorary son, Michael (Toni) Polite; eight grandchildren, Calvin (Robbie) Thomas, Peter (Brittany) Thomas, Molly Walter, Hannah Walter, Ashley Thomas, Brittany Thomas, Nicole (Dylan) August, Carlee (Jake) Berry; honorary grandsons, Malachi and Michael Polite; and five great-grandchildren, Estella and Atticus Hadley-Thomas, and Elijah, Norah, and Ethan August.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, Dec 15, 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at SAVOLSKIS-WASIK-GLENN FUNERAL HOME INC., 3501 Main Street, Munhall.  A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, Dec 16, 10 AM at the St. Therese of Lisieux Church of the St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Munhall. Virginia will be laid to rest at Calvary catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, with her husband, Jim. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jubilee Kitchen (jubileekitchen.org).

Condolences may be left at www.swgfuneralhome.com.

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