Thelma L. Pierce passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Thelma was born November 15, 1934 in Putnam, CT, daughter of the late Ralph Pierce and Blanche Munyan Pierce. She graduated from
Manchester, CT High School and Bates College and had received her Masters Degree from the University of Hartford in 1972. She was employed by Connecticut General Insurance Co. (now part of CIGNA) and Aetna Inc, retiring in 1998. She was a former member of the American Society for Training and Development and was also a member of the Organizational Development Network of Western New England. She was actively involved in Bates College Alumni activities and AAWU, focusing on funding scholarships for women returning to college. She was member of the Simsbury United Methodist Church, Friends of Simsbury Library, the Farmington River Watershed Association, The Simsbury Genealogical Library, Connecticut Historical Society and several arts organizations.

She is survived by her sister, Marcia Purcell, of Fishkill, NY; nieces, Kathleen Purcell of Woodinville, WA and Susan Purcell of Carrboro, NC; nephews, Sean Purcell and his wife Dawn of Lee, MA and Thomas Purcell and his wife Hillary of Farmingdale, NY and grand nieces and nephews, Jessica, Evan, Nicholas, Jack, Jim, Lilianna, Benjamin and Tyler.

Memorial calling hours will be held at the Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Friday, August 2nd from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Putnam, CT at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Thelma's preferences are Pierce-Munyan Scholarship Fund at Bates College, 2 Andrews Road, Lewiston, ME 04240 and the Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Chapter, 55 High Street, Middletown, CT 06457. Vincent Funeral Home of Simsbury is caring for the arrangements. Please visit Thelma’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.