WAREHAM – Elsie J. (Foster) Thimas, 95, of East Providence, RI, formerly of Wareham, MA, passed away on January 6, 2024, at Linn Health & Rehabilitation Center in East Providence, RI. She was the wife of the late John P. Thimas and the daughter of the late Leo C. and Grace M. (Merritt) Foster.

Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, she lived in Wareham, MA, for most of her life, finally settling in East Providence, RI.

Elsie lived an extraordinary life. Interested in preserving her family roots, she kept meticulous notes, photographs, newspaper articles, and assorted documentation, that chronicled her ancestry back to the early 1800’s. She took a keen interest in stories told by her grandparents and other relatives, sparking an inquisitive and creative mind in the process, which carried on throughout her entire life.

This aspect proved to be very fruitful. Elsie made her own clothes, as well as those of her children. Lovingly so, she knitted and crocheted blankets, vests, and scarves for her family. With the hands of a skilled craftsman, she made Barbie doll furniture out of cardboard, foam, contact paper (used for lining cabinets), and scrap materials. Her heart was filled with great joy on Christmas morning, when the children excitedly saw them under the tree.

Growing seasonal fruits and vegetables became a necessity during World War II, when ration cards were being distributed. Her grandmother and mother taught her to make pies, soup, bread, jellies and jams, from what was harvested in their back yard. During these lean times, she learned from them how to garden, make preserves, cook, and bake on a woodburning stove. Gardening was essential for her to maintain a healthy life, a steadfast belief and practice until she was at the age of 91.

A train ride from Greenwich to Harlem brought fun nights for Elsie and her girlfriends. The Cotton Club, The Sugar Shack, and the Savoy Ballroom provided plenty of world class entertainment. Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and other artists performed right before their very eyes. Sidney Portier, Frank Sinatra, and other celebrity sightings were not unusual for them during this exciting time, as these clubs were the happening scene for the Black community. Racism was left outside, where it belonged. Once inside, everyone was connected like musical notes on a staff.

Married to her husband, John, at the age of 27, they made their home in Boston and became actively involved with The Nation of Islam. During that time, Elsie taught Muslim Girls Training Classes, at Temple No.11, which was under the direct leadership of Malcom X. The couple became very friendly with him and he was a frequent visitor to their home.

After several years, the family moved to Wareham, MA. John eventually became involved with Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign and canvassed for him. Once elected, President Carter invited them to his inauguration and associated events, in which Elsie expressed it was one of the highlights of her life.

Upon John’s passing in May of 2000, Elsie began to work for the Wareham Career Center, retiring at 84 years old, due to Parkinson’s disease. The illness prompted her to move into an assisted living community in Providence, RI. But that didn’t stop her creativity from flourishing. She met normal daily activities with constantly shaking hands, having one exception when she was holding an artists’ paintbrush.

Through the activities program at PACE Organization of Rhode Island,
Elsie discovered that she had a natural gift for painting. With her brush in hand, the colors were practically calling for her attention to be brought to life on the canvas, and she did just that. Bold, red tomatoes were whimsically painted in a dish with a lapis lazuli blue background. The hush of winter snow, looking peacefully quiet between the evergreen trees, in another. Hills, painted impressionist style, magnificently bursting with yellow dots, like flowers aching for the sun.

As her Parkinson’s disease progressed, she moved to Linn Health & Rehabilitation Center. In November of 2020, she contracted Covid 19 and survived it with the outstanding care and expertise of the staff. They treated the residents with the same love and care as they would their own family members.

These carefully chosen words are just a touching glimpse of her amazing life. Stories, too numerous to count, hopefully will be remembered not just by family members, but by all who knew and loved her.

She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her children, John (Pete) Thimas and his husband, Kenneth Brunelle of Fall River, Susan (Thimas) White and her husband William T. White, III of RI, Cynthia (Thimas) Fernandes of GA, Vivian P. Thimas of New Bedford; a sister, Marie A. Jones of Port Chester, NY; 6 grandchildren, Stephanie M. Rezendes and her partner, Kwasi Aggor, Amie Thimas DosSantos and her husband, John, Brittany A. Hillman, Casey T. Gilbert, Jordan A. Fernandes and Olivia M. Fernandes; 5 great grandchildren, Aubrey M. Johnson, Julia E. DosSantos, Kamron Aggor, Ethan Aggor and Owen Aggor. She was the mother of the late Carole L. Stone, sister of the late John F. Woodward, grandmother of the late James R. Stone and great grandmother of the late James R. Stone, Jr.

Visiting hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Chapman Funerals & Cremations – WAREHAM, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

Donations in her memory may be made to:
Aldersbridge Communities
(Linn Health & Rehabilitation)
40 Irving Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914

Or donations made to: PACE Organization of Rhode Island
10 Tripps Lane
Riverside, RI 02915