Veronica C Thomas

Veronica C. Thomas May 22, 1929 - February 28, 2016

Veronica C. Thomas, age 86, of Faribault, MN, passed away February 28, 2016, at the District One Hospital in Faribault, following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault. Interment will be at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault at a later date.

Visitation held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and on Friday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Divine Mercy Catholic Church or River Bend Nature Center in memory of Verna.

Veronica (Verna) Catherine was born on May 22, 1929, in Lakeville, MN to Emil and Anna (Gephart) Cihak. She was baptized, received first communion, confirmed, and married at All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville. She graduated in 1947 from Lakeville High School after completing grade school at Country District 70 School in Scott County, known as Kraft School. On October 19, 1948, she married Elmer J. Thomas. They worked for a farmer near Owatonna, then moved to a farm near Lakeville and farmed until 1955. Then they purchased a dairy farm near Dennison where they raised their five children and farmed for 41 years. Verna''s faith was of great importance to her and she was very active at St. Michael''s Catholic Church in Kenyon. In 1996, Elmer and Verna decided to retire, had an auction and moved to a beautiful home in Faribault. In December 2012 they moved to Keystone Communities in Faribault. Elmer preceded her in death on January 10, 2014. They enjoyed traveling, playing cards, visiting with friends, and going for walks on the trails at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault. Verna was a homemaker, enjoyed gardening, and helped Elmer on the farm.

She is survived by her children, Inez Thomas (LeRoy) of Mankato, Ed (Jan) Thomas of Cannon Falls, Judie Eotvos (Mike) of Faribault, Kevin (Lora) Thomas of Northfield, and

Duane Thomas of Faribault; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; sister, Eunice Tacheny of St. Paul; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; parents, Emil and Anna; brother, Roy Cihak; and sister, Audrey Mechtel.