Carol Thomas, 88, of Niles, passed away at her home Thursday, May 10, 2012, with her family by her side.

Carol was born Dec. 23, 1923, to the late Niels and Ethel (Hart) Petersen in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

After graduating high school, Carol wed Leo B. Curtis and together they had one son. Leo passed away during the war in 1941. She later wed Robert G. Mansfield and together they had one son and two daughters. He passed away suddenly in January 1974. On Feb. 14, 1989, Carol wed John Thomas at a ceremony in South Haven, Mich. Together, Carol and Robert raised four wonderful children.

Christmas was always one of Carol’s favorite holidays. She loved family get-togethers and was a true homemaker. Carol was a long time member of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and the local Eagles Lodge. Though she worked out side of the house, taking care of her family was always her priority.

She was a waitress at the Pickwick Club and then worked at her mother’s bakery, Ethel’s Cakes, where she perfected her baking skills. While she was waitressing at Mayhew’s Restaurant, she even waited on Mickey Mantle. She went on to retire from Peel’s Grocery Store. When Carol wasn’t working, she loved to travel. Her favorite spots were Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Canada and Alaska.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Leo Curtis, in 1941, Robert Mansfield, in 1974, and John Thomas, in September 2011; one brother and two sisters.

Carol is survived by her children, Leo (Glenda) Curtis of Niles, Robalyn “Bobbie” (Joe) Benak of Buchanan, William “Bill” (Sue) Mansfield of Niles and Carol Mansfield of Niles; three stepsons, John (Nancy) Thomas of Sparta, Mich., Mark (Anne) Thomas of Lawrence and Paul Thomas of Kalamazoo; 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 14, at 11 a.m. at Mission Hills Memorial Chapel in Niles with a time of visitation an hour prior.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so in Carol’s memory to Hospice at Home located at 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.