STERLING – Debra M. (Rotti) Thomas, 63, beloved wife of Clifford P. Thomas, passed away peacefully from this life on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at home surrounded by her family. Born in Holden and raised in Clinton, she was a daughter of the late Guido E. and Dorothy M. (McElligott) Rotti. Deb moved to Sterling in 1971 and was a 1973 graduate of Wachusett Regional High School.
At the age of 19, she started working for the Massachusetts State Police, Troop “C” where she remained for 41 years, retiring in 2015. Deb was admired by her colleagues for always going “that extra mile” when needed.
On August 20, 1977 Deb married Cliff, the love of her life. They made their home in Princeton until 1992 when they finally returned “home” to Sterling. On her 50th birthday she was baptized into the Seventh-Day Adventist faith.
She was a talented artist, often sharing her drawings with family and friends. Family gatherings were always special to Deb, when she would prepare homemade ravioli and sauce. She could often be found enjoying her beautifully landscaped yard. She especially liked the fall time decorations.
Deb will be lovingly missed and remembered by her husband of 41 years, Cliff; two brothers, David and his wife, Peggy and Daniel T. and his partner, Kristine Gardner, all of Sterling; three sisters, Diahann P. Werme and her husband, Ken of Holden, Darlyne (Dolly) Rotti and her fiance, Craig Carlson of Holden and Dawn M. Young and her husband, Christopher of Hubbardston; her mother-in-law, Gertrude P. (Vaillancourt) Thomas of Sterling; and known as “Auntie Debada” to her two nieces, Deana M. Rotti of Sterling and Justyne E. Werme of Boston; her nephew, Daniel B. Buckley of Hubbardston; and her great niece, Sophia G. Rotti of Sterling. She also leaves numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews from Cliff’s side of the family who will miss her dearly.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather with Deb’s family from 5 to 8PM on Tuesday, November 13 at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling. She will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701;
www.cancer.org
or to the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY, 10016;
www.kidney.org/donate
. The family would like you to please consider becoming an organ donor.
www.milesfuneralhome.com