Josefina R. Thornton, 90, of Blountstown, Florida passed of natural causes with her family by her side on Monday, December 21, 2020.
Josefina known as “Fina” was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There she met and married the love of her life, Joel Lawrence Thornton, Sr. She was a former resident of Liberty County and moved to Blountstown in 1972. She began her teaching career as a librarian in 1960 at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, Puerto Rico. She then graduated from Interamerican University and they moved to Ocala, then to the Panhandle of Florida a year later. Fina taught 2nd and 3rd grade for 28 years at Blountstown Elementary School when she retired in 1993. She continued to volunteer at her former school for the next 7 years and always at the local nursing homes. She was passionate about animals and always took in stray cats and dogs. She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Marianna.
Survivors include her son, Joel Lawrence Thornton, Jr. and wife, Julia of Tallahassee; her daughter, Celia Thornton Thomas and her husband, Mark of Orlando; four grandchildren, Nicole Thornton Lacina and husband Tom of Shakopee, Minnesota, Sarah Grace Thornton of Tallahassee, Mason Redmond Thornton of Orlando, Ava Joelle Thornton of Tallahassee; two great grandchildren, Lucy Monroe Lacina and Mac Samuel Lacina of Shakopee, Minnesota; one sister, Nell R. Perry of Massachusetts and two nephews, John Perry and wife Julie of Kentucky and Carl Perry of Massachusetts.
Graveside services were held on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 11:00 am (CST) at Pine Memorial Cemetery Blountstown with the Rev. Bob Ott.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Critter Care of Blountstown.
All arrangements were under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown, FL. 850-674-2266.
