Our beloved daughter, Tralee Carrie Thomas, age 37, passed away early Saturday morning due to complications of diabetes. She was born January 11, 1978 in Salt Lake City, Utah to David Brusnahan and Sue Ann Litster Thomas.
Tralee was a member of the LDS church. She was a devoted aunt and loved children though she never had any of her own. She was known as Aunty Ta-Ta by nieces and nephews who were too young to be able to say her real name.
At the age of four, she had open-heart surgery on July 19, 1982, which prolonged her life. We would like to thank Dr. George Veasey, her cardiologist, and Dr. Conrad Jensen, her heart surgeon for the excellent care she received at that point. She formed a strong bond with Dr. Veasey, and after noticing that he wore a Snoopy pin on the lapel of his doctor's coat, she just had to have one, as well, so she could be like him. During her hospital stay she got to meet Goofy, Mickey, and Miss America who were visiting the children's ward.
As we pulled in the driveway bringing her home from that surgery, she jumped out of the car and started doing summersaults. It was a blessing to watch her actively enjoying life in a way that she couldn't before her surgery.
Tralee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 12 years old. She spent the remainder of her life in and out of the hospital because of this disease. She had been told that it would be unlikely that she would live to be old. And, indeed, the Lord decided to take her home now.
Tralee is survived by her parents, two sisters, Andrea Thomas and Angela Mouritsen of Salt Lake City, two brothers, Skot Thomas of Salt Lake City, and Matthew Thomas of Madison, WI, several cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. And, of course, her very dear friend, Misti Gagnier, and pets Tank and Duchess. Family and friends alike will sorely miss her.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015, from 6:00 ‚ 8:00pm. There will be another viewing on Friday, May 29, 2015, from 9:30 ‚ 10:45am. The funeral will be at 11:00am. All services will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 S., Salt Lake City, UT (1300 South and about one and one-half blocks east of Foothill Blvd.)
