Emelia (Athanas) Thamel

TRAVELER'S REST, SC / WORCESTER, MA - Emelia (Athanas) Thamel, age 104 passed away on Sept. 29, 2024 in Traveler's Rest, S.C. Born in Korce, Albania. She was predeceased by her husband, Victor Peter Thamel and her parents Kosta and Anastasia (Christo-Fatse) Athanas.

She leaves a son, Peter V. Thamel and his wife, Patricia A. Thamel of Ware, MA and a daughter, Sylvia Thamel Shadel and her husband, Robert F. Shadel of Traveler's Rest, S.C. She also leaves five grandchildren and their significant others: Marnie Thamel and Paul Ergh, V. Peter and Kate Thamel, Brent and Cat Shadel, Spencer Shadel and Olivia Harrison, Anastasia Shadel Speelman and Josh Speelman. She also leaves her great-grandson Teddy Peter Thamel, who was a special joy in her life. She is survived by many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also leaves many relatives in Albania.

Emelia grew up in a large family of six children. She is survived by a sister, Ellen Brown of Paxton. She was predeceased by 3 sisters, Ann Mitro, Bessie Spiro, Mary Macewicz, and a brother, James Athanas.

Emelia highly valued education, graduating with a GED and having taken many college courses. She worked as a Secretary and Research Assistant in the Graduate Psychology Department at Clark University. One of her goals in life was to be sure her children and grandchildren received college educations. All have graduated from four-year colleges, and some have multiple degrees.

She was proud of her Albanian heritage, traveling to Albania eight times. Her last trip was with family at the age of 88. She spoke and wrote in Albanian throughout her life.

She came to the United States from Albania three months after she was born, traveling by boat in the fall of 1920 and entering the country at Ellis Island. She began work at age 15 at American Optical to help support her family, and instilled the dual importance of hard work and education to her family.

Emelia was a long-time member of St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church in Worcester. She was active in the Albanian-American Women's Organization, having served as President and representing the organization in Albania. She was also a member of the Women's Guild for many years.

From a life mostly spent in the Worcester area to her time as a snowbird/resident in Florida and late in life in South Carolina, Emelia exuded a palpable kindness that permeated through everyone she interacted with. She was a caring mother, beloved grandmother and great grandmother, benevolent neighbor, and trusted friend. She cared deeply for family, friends, and those caretakers she interacted with later in life.

She was a devout reader, kept her mind sharp by solving puzzles and she mastered technology, such as the iPad and iPhone later in life that made her more tech savvy than many of her younger relatives. She appreciated the ability to connect through technology to friends and family in Albania, shortening the distance and intensifying the connection to a place with people she held so dearly.

Family and friends are invited to meet with Emelia's family from 9:30 - 11:00AM on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 in St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury Street, Worcester. A funeral service will follow at 11:00AM with the Rev. Fr. Mark Doku officiating. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Emelia's name may be made to St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church Endowment Fund, 535 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609.

Arrangements are under the care of Philip G. Haddad, Jr., Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St. Holden.

MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL!