Elisa I. Thomas, 88, of Butler died Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family.

She was born June 20, 1921, in Butler, a daughter of the late Vincent and Antonia Nanni DeMatteis.

Elisa was a homemaker, mother and grandmother. Before her marriage, she worked at Keystone Pipe in Butler.

She was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler and formerly had volunteered at St. Michael Parish's weekly fish fries.

Her husband, Charles M. "Ike" Thomas Jr., preceded her in death on Aug. 31, 1991. Two brothers and two sisters also preceded her.

Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Mary Ann and Larry Townsend of Sarver and Jacqueline and Bruce Apel of Pittsburgh; three sons, Charles V. Thomas and his wife, Marsha Thomas, of Butler, Robert A. Thomas of Chicora and Michael A. Thomas of Butler; six sisters, Ann Krankota, Mrs. Eleanor Lasky, Violet DeMatteis, Mrs. Sylvia Wigton and Angela DeMatteis, all of Butler, and Joan Jannetti and her husband, Harry Jannetti, of New Castle; and eight grandchildren: Lisa, Jennifer and Christopher Thomas, Melissa Teeters, Michael Thomas Jr., Stephanie Thomas and Joseph and Samantha Apel. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.

<B>THOMAS </B>—<B> </B>Friends of Elisa I. Thomas, who died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery.The bereavement committee of St. Michael Parish will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home to conduct a parish vigil service.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.