Former Southwest Principal Denise I. Thomas Dies At 70

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Denise Thomas, the former principal of Southwest Elementary School in Evergreen Park, died Sept. 30 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Formerly of Tinley Park, Denise had been living in New Lenox.

Denise served as principal of the Dist. 124 elementary school from 1995 to 2011. She also taught in Tinley Park School Dist. 140.

“She was known for her creativity, commitment to children and her innovation in the area of reading. She knew every child and every family and was a strong advocate for the Southwest School Community,” Evergreen Park ESD 124 said in a statement.

She was born Oct. 3, 1949 in Chicago, the daughter of the late Ralph and Florence (Sherretz) Thomas She was the loving mother of Erica (Mark) Oberts and Evan Akers; cherished grandmother of Matthew, Olivia, and Owen Oberts; dear sister of the late Reginald Thomas, Jonelle (Jerry) Grigsby, and Jay Thomas; beloved aunt of Jerilyn Kozek and Jamie (Amy) Kozek and great aunt of Nick and Stefani Kier and Brooklyn Kozek.

Visitation will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 at Kurtz Funeral Home, 102 E. Francis Road, New Lenox. Prayers at the funeral home will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., St. Jude Catholic Church, 241 W. Second Ave., New Lenox. Entombment at Good Shepherd Cemetery, 16201 S. 104th Ave. Orland Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Denise’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.