Kristin Thomas Verde, a Provincetown native, died suddenly of pneumonia caused by Covid-19 in New Bedford on Sept. 20, 2020. She was 55.
Kristin was born and raised here, the daughter of the late Olivia (Tasha) and Anthony L. Thomas Jr. She was deeply connected to Provincetown for her entire life. She was especially proud of her Portuguese fishing family heritage.
She was part owner and operator of the F/V Blue Ocean for many years and, most recently, of the F/V Yankee Rose. She also worked for many years as a manager at the Governor Bradford. A true townie, she was happiest on or near the water. You could often find her at Herring Cove Beach or on a whale watch.
Other than in the last handful of years spent in New Bedford, Provincetown was her home. She was the unofficial mayor. Anyone who was a townie knew her.
Always ready to have fun, Kristin had a larger-than-life personality. She loved to cook, bead, and sing along to music, and she was a fierce opponent at most table games. She was a great companion to laugh with on a road trip. She loved celebrating holidays, especially the Blessing of the Fleet and Christmas.
Deeply loyal, she could be counted on to stand up for a family member or a friend, even if the agitator was bigger than her. No one messed with Kris. And yet, it wasn’t rare to catch her teary-eyed in front of a Hallmark Channel movie.
Kristin’s people were her entire world. She had a single child, Cyle Thomas, with whom she shared a beautiful and unique bond. She often said that being his mom was her greatest accomplishment in life. She married the love of her life, Pedro Verde, with whom she enjoyed 25 years of caring for one another, rooting for their favorite sports teams, bickering affectionately, and cooking memorable seafood feasts.
She and Pedro had been living in New Bedford, where Pedro worked as a fisherman. It was there that she contracted the coronavirus. She would have wanted her Outer Cape friends to know that she was not in Provincetown when she became ill, her son said.
She maintained lifelong friendships with friends whom she considered family: Lisa Smith, James Catanese, Fran Muldoon, Andi Phillips, Toni Osowski Thomas, Sue Gustafson, and Sally Wait, to name a few.
Kristin’s zest for life, loyalty, generosity, infectious laugh, forthrightness, bravery, colorful language, the twinkle of humor and defiance in her eyes, the quality of her friendships, and her love for family will not be forgotten. Nor will her big heart that touched everyone she met and took under her wing.
Kristin leaves her husband, Manuel Pedro Verde; her son, Cyle Thomas; her sisters, Cindy Thomas McGonagle and Helen and husband Tony Motto; her sister-in-law, Debby Thomas; her nephews and niece and their families: Tony and wife Rebecca Motto Jr., Mike and wife Tasia Rego, Josh and wife Marchelle Rego, Anthony and wife Michelle Thomas, and Erin Thomas and husband Miller Lawrence. She is also mourned by aunts, uncles, grand-nieces and -nephews, cousins, and friends.
Kristin was a woman of faith who believed she would be reunited with her parents and with her big brother, Anthony L. Thomas III.
To honor Kristin’s memory, stay vigilant, be safe, and take care to keep safe those who are more vulnerable. A service and celebration of Kristin’s life will be held when mourners can gather and remember her safely.
Donations in her memory may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Provincetown Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 109, Provincetown 02657.
An online guest book for expressions of condolence for the family may be found at gatelyfuneralservice.com.