Teresa Thomas

LEOMINSTER -- Teresa (Rios) Thomas, 72, of 13 Short St., Leominster, died Thursday, Oct. 11, in the River Terrace Health Care in Lancaster after an illness.

Teresa was born on Nov. 16, 1934, in Lockhart, Texas, daughter of Juan and Maria (Sanchez) Rios, and lived in Leominster for the past 43 years. She had worked in the healthcare industry for several years. She was a member of St. Leo’s Church in Leominster, and was an avid bingo player.

She was the former wife of the late Arthur J. Thomas of Biddeford, Maine; beloved mother of Arthur J. Thomas Jr. and his wife, Colleen, of Dedham, Linda A. Thomas of Leominster, with whom she lived, and Nancy A. Gauthier and her husband, Fred, of Leominster; grandmother of Erica Thomas and her fiance, Mike Bergeron, Brandon Gauthier, Brittany Gauthier and Brianna Gauthier, all of Leominster, and Sierra Tynan of Dedham; sister of Sulema Davilia of Luling, Texas. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Elvira Rios and Margaret Sanchez; and two brothers, Juan Rios and Emmette Rios.

THOMAS -- Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 15, from the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West St., Leominster, with a Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Leo’s Church, 128 Main St., Leominster. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 2-5 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Development & The Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, Floor 6, Brookline, MA 02445-9924.