Mary Jo (Thommas) Paiva, 68, of Wells, passed away Saturday, March 14, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH, after a brief but feisty battle with cancer.
Mary Jo was born in Manchester, NH, on August 6, 1951. She was a 1969 graduate of Nashua (NH) High School, and was a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was employed at The Lodges in Springvale as the site administrator for over a decade. She previously worked at Huntington Common, in Kennebunk, and Kennebunk Nursing Center.
Mary Jo leaves behind her high school sweetheart and husband of 34 years, Kenneth C. Paiva of Wells. Mary Jo and Ken enjoyed over 50 years of laughs, tears and memorable times together. Whether it was in a tiny apartment in Boston, a condo on the Seacoast or the home they built together in Wells, Mary Jo and Ken were always side by side. They knew each other as well as they knew themselves, sometimes better. She was Lucy to his Ricky.
Mary Jo also leaves behind two sisters Linda Jean and her husband Jerry of Cape Neddick and Jane Williams and her husband Rob of Henniker, NH, a sister-in-law Sharon Stephan and her husband Bill of Lancaster, PA, brother-in-law Rick Paiva and his wife Linda of Collinsville, Conn., brother-in-law Tim Paiva and his wife Doreen of Dover, NH. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews all of whom she was eminently proud of.
Mary Jo was an accomplished needle worker, a great cook and enjoyed long walks along the seashore with Ken and their dogs. She had a passion for helping the elderly through the later years of their lives and treasured every interaction with her residents at the Lodges.
Mary Jo was predeceased by her parents Robert and Virginia Thommas, of Nashua, NH.
Mary Jo’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Lodges for their constant support and the Mass General and Wentworth-Douglass hospital departments of oncology for their kindness and care.
A Memorial Roman Catholic Mass will be celebrated at a later date at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Wells.