March 23, 1991 – April 18, 2019
On April 18, 2019, Jacqueline Winter Thomas crossed to the other side of the river. She was 28.
She was a poet, a philosopher, a lover of trees, and delighted in snowfall, who strived always to translate herself. She loved mountains and rivers and was most comfortable in her solitude, wherever or in whomever she found it. She held a bachelor’s degree in literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a masters of fine arts in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She had recently been accepted as an English fellow at Brandeis University’s PhD program. She was a poetry reader at The Adroit Journal and a contributing editor at Eratio Poetry Journal.
Jacqueline is survived by her other, her person, her partner Robert von Heine-Geldern and his family; her loving mother and father, Lisa Venezia Thomas and Charles Thomas; her sister and best friend, Jeanette Thomas, and husband, Matthew Cavender; her Poppa and morning coffee date, Rocco Venezia; her devoted grandparents, Willa and Charlie Thomas; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She treasured her cats Panda and Echo, and fostered and found forever homes for at least nine other shelter cats. She was predeceased by her dear Nonna, Maria Venezia.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held from noon to 3 pm on Wednesday, April 24 at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale, NJ. A memorial mass will be held at 11 am Thursday, April 25 at St. Andrew’s R.C. Church, 120 Washington Ave., Westwood, NJ.
The family requests no flowers. To honor Jacqueline’s memory, remember Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Please consider donating in Jacqueline’s name to Heifer International at heifer.org/gift-catalog/honor-cards or mail to Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202.
Lisa, Chuck, Robert, Jeanette..
Please know how very sorry I am at the loss of your beloved and very beautiful Jacqueline.
My heart goes out to you and I have no words
Love and hugs, Annie
Lisa, Chuck, Jeannette, Rocky
There are no words to say how very sorry we were to hear of Jacqueline’s passing.
Our hearts go out to your family.
With all our love
John and Sue
I am so sorry I didn’t have the chance to spend more time with Jacqueline but the little time I was around her I was impressed with her tenderness and love toward others. She was beautiful and enjoyable to be with, and I was looking forward to getting to know her better and was happy and blessed she was a part of our family. Many prayers for her, Rob and her many friends and family members.
I am so ,very sorry and heart- broken for your pain and unbearing sadness, I can’t imagine, how- but it is my hope that you will find peace and comfort by cherishing the wonderful memories of her. With deepest sympathy..
I am so ,very sorry and heart- broken for your pain and unbearing sadness, I can’t imagine, how- but it is my hope that you will find peace and comfort by cherishing the wonderful memories of her. With deepest sympathy..
Dear Thomas Family,
We are so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Jacqueline. May she rest easy in eternal peace.
All our love,
Frank, Diane and Megan Fullam
With a heavy heart, I am here to say goodbye to a dear friend, a free spirit, a lover of nature, an intellectual, a poet, and a member of our Literature cohort at Ramapo College, the class of 2015. While we were apart in miles after our graduation, we were still drawn close by our like mindedness and love for solitude, academia, and the outdoors. Winter is her season. Summer is mine. With that in mind, I will always cherish more the beauty of the first snowfall and the footsteps we leave behind.
My deepest sympathies,
Caitlin DiNunzio (Vogel)
Jacqueline was an incredibly kind, intelligent, talented, beautiful person. In poetry workshop she always had the most insightful and inspiring ways of looking at a poem and where to take it. She was truly a poet’s poet and will be missed. I wish that I had been fortunate enough to spend even more time with her. I know that the world has lost a wonderful poet and human being in Jacqueline. My condolences to all her many loved ones.
It is with great sorrow that I am sending my condolences on your recent loss. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I and would like to share a scripture that has benefited me and many people in time of grief. God reassures us of something wonderful in the Bible at Acts 24:15. It says, “There is going to be a resurrection.” Along with God’s promise to us at Revelation 21:3, 4 of sorrow, death, and pain being done away with permanently.
It is my hope that this bit of information is of comfort to you. Please be sure to find further information regarding the resurrection at: JW.ORG
May God be with you.
I am saddened to hear of Jacqueline’s passing. I knew her from her time as a student assistant at Ramapo College Library. She was such a beautiful young lady and so down to earth.
Love and Light, Jacqueline
My sincerest sympathies to the Thomas family
Please find comfort (however small) in knowing how far Jacqueline’s words reached.
I’ve read her poetry (on heteroglossia) for years. I live in New Zealand and her poetry still found me.
I am so very sorry for your profound loss.
Read her words and find strength, always.
I did not know you, but I knew you through your writing. You have touched more hearts than you know. My friend had told me of her loss, and as such–her loss is mine. My sympathies are with your friends & family. Godspeed.
Dear Thomas family, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Jacqueline. She was my professor, during my first semester at Ramapo. I always emailed her, because I loved how much faith she had and how caring she was as an individual. I told her she was my favorite teacher I’ve had, and she was very helpful. She was an amazing individual. Im sorry for your loss, I know she is in Heaven watching over you guys. Sending love and strength.
Our Jacqueline passed away on Holy Thursday of the 2019 Easter weekend. I am just reading these kind words now and want you to know how they have touched my heart. I have faith that I will see my daughter again. On behalf of my entire family… all the kindness shared from so many, is so very truly appreciated.
Lisa, Chuck I send you love and hugs for as a Mother I know there are no words to ease your pain.
We just found out and it is with great sorrow we send our condolences.