Mary Elaine Thies
August 21, 1927 ~ December 27, 2015
Mary Elaine Thies
August 21, 1927 December 27, 2015
McLean, Virginia
"A Life Dedicated to Teaching, Care, Compassion, and Giving"
Mary Elaine Thies was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven and began her eternal life on Sunday, December 27 with her family at her side. She succumbed to congestive heart failure after fighting its ravages for the past several years.
Born Mary Elaine Petri on August 21, 1927 to Harold and Helen Petri in Ottumwa, Iowa, Elaine (as she was known by her family and friends) was the second oldest of eight children. She lived a long, rich, fulfilling, and complete life.
Elaine left her Midwest life in 1945 to see the world. Her first stop was Pensacola, Florida where she served in the United States Navy Reserve affiliate Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. While there, she met a young, handsome carrier-based naval aviator just home from serving his country in the Pacific. Elaine married Eugene Edward Thies on September 5, 1950 at the Pensacola Naval Air Station chapel with full military regalia. The newlywed couple then went on a dream honeymoon to Havana, Cuba, dancing the nights away at the Tropicana Club and marveling at the mesmerizing white sand beaches and turquoise-colored water by day.
A devout, lifelong Roman Catholic, Elaine dedicated her life to her family, ensuring that her home was a sanctuary of love, learning, and support. She instilled in her children the lifelong virtues of honesty, compassion, and charity. Elaine shared her faith as a volunteer religious education teacher. She was an expert bridge player, avid water skier, competitive golfer, accomplished seamstress, creative gardener, passionate painter, and took great pride in nurturing the vast variety of birds and other wild animals that visited her many feeders and water baths. She loved to ballroom dance and was able to participate in this activity until a year before her death.
Taking on the leadership of the Women's Club of Saint Luke Roman Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia, Elaine directed that club's year-round charitable work that served the poor, destitute, homeless, and hungry of the Washington Metropolitan Area. She was best known for her successful efforts to significantly increase the membership of the club, which still stands today as a hallmark of this parish.
Predeceased by her parents; her brother Larry Petri; her husband Eugene of 32 years; and her son Eugene, Jr., Elaine is survived by her loving children: Gregory Alan Thies and his wife Tamara of Charlottesville, Virginia and their children Gregory, Jr, Aidan, and Breccan; Adrienne Albers and her husband Michael G. Albers of McLean, Virginia and their children Grant, Hope, Kate, and Cole; Mary Carolyn Thies and her husband Stephen A. Becker of McLean, Virginia and her children Kevin and Carolyn; sisters Verene Eggeling of Denver, Colorado; JoAnn Loehr of Phoenix, Arizona; Joyce Roach of Denver, Colorado; and, brothers Richard Petri of Denver, Colorado; Gary Petri of Denver, Colorado; and, Bernard Petri of Parker, Colorado.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Luke Roman Catholic Church, McLean Virginia. Thirty minutes prior to Mass, guests will be received by the family at the church chapel where her body will lie in repose. Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
August 21, 1927 December 27, 2015
McLean, Virginia
"A Life Dedicated to Teaching, Care, Compassion, and Giving"
Mary Elaine Thies was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven and began her eternal life on Sunday, December 27 with her family at her side. She succumbed to congestive heart failure after fighting its ravages for the past several years.
Born Mary Elaine Petri on August 21, 1927 to Harold and Helen Petri in Ottumwa, Iowa, Elaine (as she was known by her family and friends) was the second oldest of eight children. She lived a long, rich, fulfilling, and complete life.
Elaine left her Midwest life in 1945 to see the world. Her first stop was Pensacola, Florida where she served in the United States Navy Reserve affiliate Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. While there, she met a young, handsome carrier-based naval aviator just home from serving his country in the Pacific. Elaine married Eugene Edward Thies on September 5, 1950 at the Pensacola Naval Air Station chapel with full military regalia. The newlywed couple then went on a dream honeymoon to Havana, Cuba, dancing the nights away at the Tropicana Club and marveling at the mesmerizing white sand beaches and turquoise-colored water by day.
A devout, lifelong Roman Catholic, Elaine dedicated her life to her family, ensuring that her home was a sanctuary of love, learning, and support. She instilled in her children the lifelong virtues of honesty, compassion, and charity. Elaine shared her faith as a volunteer religious education teacher. She was an expert bridge player, avid water skier, competitive golfer, accomplished seamstress, creative gardener, passionate painter, and took great pride in nurturing the vast variety of birds and other wild animals that visited her many feeders and water baths. She loved to ballroom dance and was able to participate in this activity until a year before her death.
Taking on the leadership of the Women's Club of Saint Luke Roman Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia, Elaine directed that club's year-round charitable work that served the poor, destitute, homeless, and hungry of the Washington Metropolitan Area. She was best known for her successful efforts to significantly increase the membership of the club, which still stands today as a hallmark of this parish.
Predeceased by her parents; her brother Larry Petri; her husband Eugene of 32 years; and her son Eugene, Jr., Elaine is survived by her loving children: Gregory Alan Thies and his wife Tamara of Charlottesville, Virginia and their children Gregory, Jr, Aidan, and Breccan; Adrienne Albers and her husband Michael G. Albers of McLean, Virginia and their children Grant, Hope, Kate, and Cole; Mary Carolyn Thies and her husband Stephen A. Becker of McLean, Virginia and her children Kevin and Carolyn; sisters Verene Eggeling of Denver, Colorado; JoAnn Loehr of Phoenix, Arizona; Joyce Roach of Denver, Colorado; and, brothers Richard Petri of Denver, Colorado; Gary Petri of Denver, Colorado; and, Bernard Petri of Parker, Colorado.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Luke Roman Catholic Church, McLean Virginia. Thirty minutes prior to Mass, guests will be received by the family at the church chapel where her body will lie in repose. Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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MaryCarolyn and family, your Mother was an amazing woman who lived her life to the fullest. She was so fortunate to have her loving children nearby and her deep faith. She is now in a beautiful place. I know you will miss her so much. Love and hugs, Marianne