Thelma Margaret Murphy Finney, 98, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at her home at Brentwood Assisted Senior Living of Hobart in Hobart. Thelma was born October 9, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Frank J. and Thelma Murphy (LaCourciere). She was raised in Skokie, Illinois the first of five children.  She graduated from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1943.  Thelma, an Army Veteran, served in the Army Nurses Corp at Ft. Sill, OK and the Army Naval General Hospital in Hot Springs, AR 1945-1946.  She then served as a Red Cross Nurse for the returning injured military during the polio epidemic in Denver, CO.  There she met her soon to be husband of 28 years, Donald Rae Finney of Thermopolis, WY.  Thelma and Don settled in Northwest Indiana where they raised their five children while Thelma worked at Mercy Hospital in Gary and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

Thelma loved and cherished all her family, her faith and her many dear and devoted friends, especially her fellow nurses in Pinochle Club. She loved to travel to visit her family across the continental USA, take wonderful and interesting vacations and volunteered for many years as the "Nurse" on the Senior Bus Trips for Gainer Bank.  Thelma enjoyed Lake Michigan and it's many beaches, dunes and nature walks.  She was a member of The Hobart YMCA and completed numerous "100" miles of swimming. A highlight of her senior years was when Thelma was able to take part in Honor Flight Chicago 2015.

Thelma, a devout Roman Catholic, was an active parishioner at St. Bridget Catholic Church.  She was a member of The St. Ann's Confraternity and ministered in church as a lector, choir member, Eucharistic Minister at church and to the homebound and was part of the original RCIA Team.  After retiring from nursing, Thelma continued to volunteer as a minister of Communion to St. Mary Medical Center patients.

In addition to her parents Thelma was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Don; her son, Christopher A. (Annamarie) Finney of Mustang, OK.; her brothers, Charles J. "Murph" (Galina) Murphy of Milford, CN., and Christian Brother Denis Frank Murphy of Chicago, IL.

Thelma will be dearly missed by her daughters, Patricia (James) Baldauf of Murrysville, PA., Donna (Richard) Cohen of Loveland, CO., Mary Elizabeth Finney and Karen DeHart of Ft. Collins, CO.; her brother, Michael (Kathleen) Murphy of Silverton OR.; her sister, Sr. Patricia Murphy R.S.M. and her soulsister, Sr. JoAnn Persch R.S.M. of Alsip, IL.; her 6 grandchildren, Sean, Nicholas, Paul, Amanda, Daniel, Taylor; 8  great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, a lifetime of friends and her fellow residents and the wonderful staff at Brentwood Assisted Living.

Thelma's family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Dunes Hospice of Valparaiso for the incredible service, care, and kindness they showed Thelma.  Always a servant, Thelma generously donated her body for scientific study to Indiana University Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology School of Medicine.

Family and friends may gather for a Memorial Mass at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 107 Main St., Hobart, IN 46368 on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Benjamin Ross and Rev. Dominic Bertino officiating.  The Nursing Honor Guard will present a tribute to Thelma's nursing career at the church.

In lieu of flowers Thelma would love support to Misericordia Home for the Disabled, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660 or Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, 818 East 63 ^rd Street, #295, Chicago, IL 60637.