J. Ducasse Thomas of Nyack died peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 6th 2017. He died in the arms of his loving wife Janise Thomas. Ducasse was born on July 22, 1928 in Port Au Prince Haiti. Born to Joanis Thomas and Genevieve Charite Duplassy, Ducasse was the second of eight brothers and sisters. From a young age Ducasse took up the trade of mechanic, repairing commercial boats and trucks to support his family. In 1969 he emigrated from Haiti to the United States and laid the path to a new life for his entire family. Upon arriving he worked for Manly Chevrolet and Volvo of West Nyack before working for the State of New York - Palisades Interstate Park Commission at Rockland Lake in Congers, NY. As a head mechanic there he could repair anything that moved and he loved his job until retiring in 2008 (age 79) after 24 years of service. When Ducasse was not fixing cars he could be found reading the Bible in his study or his Garage. He was a member of Gates of Heaven in Central Nyack and then United Pentecostal Holiness Church Paterson, NJ/ Newark, NJ where he served as Deacon and was eventually known as Elder Thomas. He never missed an opportunity to inspire those around him and share the Word of God. Ducasse is survived by his wife Janise Thomas; Siblings Marie Soimise Thomas, Edouard Thomas and Louis-Homme Thomas; His six children: Ruth Thomas Louis, Henry Claude Thomas, Lilienne Thomas, SSG Pierre D Thomas, Dina Thomas Williams and Benjamin Thomas. He had 13 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grand Children. A Wake will be on Friday June 16th (6pm-9pm). The Funeral will be held on Saturday June 17th (9am-12pm) and the Repass will be from 1pm-4pm
All events will take place at: Living Christ Church formerly Simpson Memorial Church
150 Piermont Ave. South Nyack, NY 10960 Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery on Rt 9W across from Nyack Hospital. Arrangements are being handled by the Hannemann Funeral Home, Inc. 88 South Broadway Nyack, NY 10960 (845) 358-0573