Charlene Cecelia Thomas (Age 59) of Washington, DC.

Charlene Cecelia Thomas (Cha/Aunt Cha) was born June 4, 1958 to the late Philip A. and Audrey C. Thomas at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC.  She departed this life on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at The George Washington University Medical Center.

Charlene was educated in Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Washington until her graduation from Saint Patrick's Academy in 1976.  Just prior to her graduation she began employment with The U.S. Department of Defense/Defense Printing Service as an Accounting Technician.  She later sought employment with The Navy Regional Finance Center in Crystal City, Virginia while also attending the University of The District of Columbia studying Computer Science.  In February 1999 she began working at D.C. General Hospital as the Lead Accounting Technician in the Financial Division where she was awarded a Certificate for 25 Years of Dedicated Service.  She worked tirelessly with City Advocates to keep the Hospital open, even taking her nephew Cahli with her to picket.  After a brief break, Charlene began working with The D.C. Department of Energy and The Environment as a Program Management Specialist until her retirement in January 2017.

She was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith in 1958 and worshipped at Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Catholic Church, always attending the 11:00 Gospel Mass until her health began to fail.

Charlene is survived by her two brothers, Philip (Nancy) Thomas and John (Alfreda) Thomas and two sisters, Karen Thomas-Mitchell (Patrick) and Carla Thomas-Spells (Karl); three nieces, Miya Thomas-Brevard (Brian),Melissa Coleman and Julie Anne Coleman; and two nephews, Marcus Thomas and Cahli Thomas; two great nephews, Brian Brevard Jr. and Caprice Gunter; one great niece, Nova Dobson; one Aunt, Odelle Thomas; and, her adopted son and grandson, Cornelius and  Raheem McClendon.

Charlene was a kind and fun-loving person.  If you found her, you found "the fun." She loved people and they loved her back.  She was a shopaholic who would leave for the mall in the early a.m. and would be there until the mall closed.  Charlene's light always shined bright and will continue to shine in those that had the pleasure to know and love her.

Sincere appreciation and life-long gratitude are extended to Charlene's adopted mother, Gladys Washington and her adopted sister, Lisa Washington-Thomas, who will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Thomas Family.

Viewing, 9:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial, 12:00 pm, Thursday, November 9, 2017 at Holy Comforter St. Cyprian Roman Catholic Church, 1357 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003.

Interment, Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland, Maryland 20746.