Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud, for Esther Burant Thomas who died on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at St. Benedict’s Senior Community Nursing Home. Friends and relatives may call from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 12th at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud and also after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Christian Mothers will pray at 4:30 p.m. and parish prayers will be at 6:30 p.m. Fr. Tony Oelrich will officiate and burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Minden Township.

Esther was born July 5, 1919 on the Burant farm near Gilman in Benton County, MN. She was the only child of the late John and Teckla (Prodzinski) Burant. She married Richard Thomas on August 10, 1942 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Gilman, MN.

She lived most of her married life in St. Cloud and was a graduate of the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1940. She worked as a Registered Nurse in Rochester, MN, Pensacola, FL and retired from the St. Cloud Manor Nursing Home in 1984. She was a long time member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church and a volunteer at St. Augustine’s Library/Media Center from 1986-2002. She was a member of St. Augustine’s Christian Women, The Daughters of Isabella, Our Lady of Grace Mission Group, the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association and a Lifetime Member of the Eastside VFW Auxiliary.

Our mother was the most caring and giving person we have ever known. She cared for the sick and elderly as a nurse for 40 years and as an only child she cared for her parent’s daily needs. As a wife and mother she provided for her family, always sacrificing for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Volunteering wherever she was needed, she especially loved reading to the children at St. Augustine’s School. She spent many happy hours tending to her flower gardens. She cared for all of us until her last day...We love you Mom.

Esther is survived by her children, Philip (Lois Gaetz) of St. Cloud, Frederick (Judy) of St. Cloud, Sarah (Dick) Tabaka of Longville, MN, Kristine (Steve) Svensson of Sterling, VA; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard on May 20, 2004; and her daughter, Sheila Thomas Chovan.