Shirin N. Rhyno

Sherry passed away peacefully after a long and courageous journey through cancer. The acclaimed oil and pastel painter lived her life to the fullest. Her beautiful, serene landscape paintings will continue to speak to all of us about taking in the beauty of life.

She was the daughter of Ted and Nouvelle Thomas of Attleboro, MA. She grew up appreciating beauty and art. She earned a degree in English at Lasell College and did graduate work at UMASS Boston and Boston University.

Sherry wove her love of art and creativity into a multifaceted career in communication. For over 30 years, she served at UMASS Boston as a marketing director, dean of students, and alumni president.

In addition, she actively furthered cultural non-profit work. She was one of the original incorporators of North Attleboro Community Television. She was also chairperson of North Attleboro's Charter Commission.

As a board member - and ultimately president - of the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, she was instrumental in establishing Orleans as an official cultural district by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2013. Sherry was chair of the non-profit Orleans Community Partnership Inc. She also served on the boards of North TV and the Orleans Cultural District Town Committee.

After her distinguished tenure at UMASS, she managed her own marketing company and pursued her love of art. In 2008 she moved to Cape Cod and worked as an exhibiting artist at Gallery 31 and became sole proprietor in 2013. The gallery has been recognized by the readers of Cape Cod LIFE as Best Fine Arts Gallery in the Lower Cape for eight consecutive years.

Sherry met the love of her life, John, when he delivered her father's car. They were good friends for 25 years and married on May 27, 2000. They lavished a lot of love on their golden retrievers and thoroughly enjoyed living on Cape Cod. In Sherry's final weeks, the only thing she asked was "where's John" and John was there right there by her side to hold her hand and that's all she cared about.

She is survived by her brother Edwin ("Ned") Thomas (Denise) of Williamsburg, VA; nieces Leigh Thomas-Williams of Crozet, VA; Heather Neff of Mills River, NC; Shana Thomas of Richmond, TX, and grandnephews Adam Thomas, Samuel Williams and Thomas Williams. She had a very special bond with John's godson Michael Todorsky and his partner Tracey DiNapoli.

Sherry leaves many special friends with countless beautiful memories, including Jackie Silva, Judy Thomas, Ellen Burns and Stacey Smith. She will be dearly missed by the many artists she represented, including Tony Alain, Stefanie Allen, Todd Ash, Paula David, Jennifer McCalmont, Paula Larkin, Richard McKinley, Deb Quinn-Munson, Sissi Schultze, Jeanne Rosier Smith, and Mary Wojciechowski.

A celebration of life for Sherry will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 10:00 am at the First Congregational Church "Oldtown", 675 Old Post Road, North Attleboro, MA.

Please do not send flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Congregational Church, 675 Old Post Road, North Attleboro, MA 02760.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com .

Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, North Attleboro, MA. 508-695-0200