Charlene H. Thomas

Charlene Hyla Thomas (nee Main), 78, passed away peacefully at the Villages of Orleans Nursing Center on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 after more than a decade long struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was born February 7, 1946 in Wellsville, NY the daughter of the late Melvin H. and Norma (Canfield) Main. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased six weeks prior by her former husband but lifelong friend Russell E. Thomas, their children Robbie and Kevin tragically in 1974, daughter Lori Beth in 2018, her sisters Beverley Willard 2001 and Shirley Howe 2006. 

Charlene graduated from Wellsville High School in 1964 and later from Kee’s Coastal College in Norfolk, Va. Family life included homes in Dresden, Himrod, Penn Yan and Lockport, NY before eventually settling permanently in Rochester in the mid 1980s. She spent many years working rental home maintenance and various self employment ventures before taking long term employment processing auto loans. Eventually her love for children led her to a position with the Rochester City School district until having to leave after 10 years of service due to the growing onset of dementia.

A green thumb for flowers, garden and landscape and an exceptionally good eye and fine hand for art were Charlene’s gifted talents which adorned her home inside and out. She was blessed with an abundance of love, trust, generosity and so much laughter for others that one would never sense there was any stress in her life. Her desires were simple; a vacation or even a day on a sunny beach, weekends and summers with her grandchildren and holidays visiting any of her family which were her greatest joys and contentment. An admirer of wildlife and lover of animals she took solace with her two cats and dog Patches.

Survivors include brothers Richard (Elaine) of Chittenango and Steven of Wellsville, son-in-law Scott Thompson of Newfane, grandson Kenneth Thompson of Lockport, granddaughter Samantha (Shane) Storms and great-grandchildren Merick Villeneuve of Buffalo, Jackson Thompson, Maddisyn, Ryanne and Anthony Storms of Rapids, NY. She is also survived by nieces and nephew of her sister Beverly’s children Neal Willard, Jean Ann Masswig, Blinda Hritz and Richard’s children Erica Main, Erin (Michael) Whitcomb.   

Private funeral arrangements at the request of the family have been made under the direction of Thomas Funeral Chapels in Rochester and will be held 11:00am Wednesday August 14 at Lakeview Cemetery in Penn Yan, NY where Charlene and Russell will be reunited and interred together with their three children for heavenly eternity.