Josephine “Joni” S. Thomas of Branford died on Sept. 25 at her home. She was the beloved wife of Paul M. Thomas. Joni was born March 11, 1954, in Goshen, New York, a daughter of the late Joseph and Philomena Zangrillo Scandurra.

She was an elementary school teacher in Branford for many years until her retirement. Joni is a graduate of Wagner College, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education and was a member of the sorority Alpha Omicron Pi. She received her Master of Science in Education at Southern Connecticut State University.

Besides her husband, Joni is survived by her children, Jeffrey Thomas of Branford, Adam (Elena) Thomas of Hamden, and Jessica (Ronaldo) Bacelar of Ridgefield, and her granddaughters, Natalia Grace and Serena Anne Bacelar. She was predeceased by her sister, Marie Scandurra.

Relatives and friends were invited to visiting hours on Oct. 2 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. A Mass of Christian burial was on Oct. 3 at St. John Bosco Parish at St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road, Branford. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery in North Haven. For directions and online memorial, see www.wsclancy.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, or the Orchard House, 420 Shore Drive, Branford, CT 06405.