Thelma Lefavour Passes Away

Thelma M. Lefavour, 90, of Missoula, Montana, formerly of Reading, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, at St. Patrick Hospital with her family by her side.

Thelma was born on December 6, 1926, in Lynn, to Jesse and Gertrude (Piper) Sutherland. She grew up in Lynn and attended Lynn English High School. Her family moved to Wakefield, in 1943 where she completed her senior year at Wakefield High School, graduating in 1944. Her childhood home was full of music. The large extended family was very involved in church activities and the Sutherland girls all sang in the choir or played the organ. She treasured times with her dad when he took her on his sales route or when they would go to Boston Red Sox games and sit in the bleachers. He also took her to Boston where they studied voice together with renowned voice teacher Minden Sewell, a true highlight that she talked about for the rest of her life.

While working in the office of C.W. Spear Dairy in Wakefield, she met her future husband, George L. (Lew) Lefavour. They married on June 6, 1948 and had two children. They made their home in Reading where she lived for 60 years. She was a wonderful wife and mother, loving her children beyond compare and never missing an opportunity to cheer them on in sports, school productions and work achievements. When dad died in 1971, mom worked hard to keep our beloved home for her family. She held several jobs but truly found her niche when she went to work for the Reading Co-Operative Bank. She loved helping people, and through her job in Customer Service she knew just about everyone in Reading. When she retired in 1994 the bank presented her with box seat tickets to ten Red Sox games. They knew her well!

Thelma was a member of the First Baptist Church of Reading, and Priscilla Chapter No.52, Order of Eastern Star. She loved to travel with her children and enjoyed trips to Bermuda, Canada, California, the Pacific Northwest and throughout her beloved New England. She was the best mother a child could ever have. She gave much and asked for very little. She was the epitome of grace, except where it concerned the New York Yankees.

Mom’s heart truly broke when she lost her son in 2006, but strong New Englander that she was, she picked up and moved to Montana in 2008, at the age of 81, to be with her daughter and son-in-law. She was preceded in death by her husband Lew, her beloved son George, her parents, sister Louise and brother Larry. She is survived by her daughter Linda and son-in-law Larry Lussy of Missoula, sister Eleanor Wortman of Lake Forest, CA and her adored niece Cindy (Don) Stafford of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA in addition to several other nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her beloved little Yorkie, Maggie.

A funeral service celebrating Thelma’s life will be held Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church 45 Woburn St., Reading. Reverend Dr. David Reid presiding. A reception for family and friends will follow at the church. Burial in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.

Mom, “Let me tell you a story about the perfect mom…Once Upon A Time, There Was You. The End”