Christiane Marie Thomas

BY Staff Reports
Sunday, March 03, 2013
3/03/13 at 5:46 AM

The world lost an extraordinary lady when 94 year old Christiane Marie Thomas died peacefully February 27, 2013. She was born in Paris, France in 1918 to parents Albert Hannot and Valentine Martin. She was nine years old when her family moved to Chateauneuf de Grasse, a village in the hills above Nice, in Southern France. Christiane was an accomplished classical pianist who was in the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels Belgium. She would later become President of the Tulsa Piano Study Club, and her favorite composer was Claude Debussy. In 1945 soon after the WWII VJ day, Christiane met her husband Lieutenant Russell Thomas on a train travelling from Cannes, France to Nice. They were married in France and they moved to Tulsa, OK in 1946. In 1955 Christiane was a founding member (and twice past President) of the “Alliance Française de Tulsa”. She was also a French teacher at the former Holland Hall “8 acres” campus until she retired in 1982. She was an intellectual lady who inspired her students and many friends. She also had a great sense of humor. Christiane was a sweet but also strong willed, capable, sophisticated, gracious lady who was always unselfish and grateful. She was also a very social person and she had a great love for life. She was always positive, upbeat, pleasant and fun. She also loved the Arts and volunteered as a docent for the Gilcrease Museum where she served as a French translator. Christiane was preceded in death by her parents, her brother George Hannot and his wife Blanchette in Brussels Belgium, and her devoted husband Russell. She is survived by her son George Martin Thomas, her daughter Claire Earlene Thomas, many close friends and family. Special thanks to the caring staff of both Hope Hospice and the Villages at Southern Hills. A Funeral Mass is scheduled Monday 2:00 PM, 3-4-13 at Holy Family Cathedral, 122 W. 8th Street, Tulsa, OK 74119. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Christiane’s memory to Catholic Charities in Tulsa 918-949-4673. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 3/3/2013.

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