Pamela S. Thomas Bivona

Our dear Pamela S. Bivona departed this earthly life on Monday, December 5, 2022 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 69.

Born Pamela Sue Thomas on the 8th day of August in 1953, she was the daughter of Omer Thomas and Pauline Thomas, and was called sister by 7 siblings: Vicki Swartz, Diana Pool, Omer ‘Frank’ Thomas (Nancy), Timothy ‘Timmy’ Thomas (Niramol), Robin Smith (Russ), Tracy Thomas (Shelly), and Cathy (Bill) Kinninger who was her sister-in-law.

After graduating from Fostoria High School in 1972, she began working at General Electric Company in Tiffin, Ohio. A year later, she married Spencer R. Fairley and together they welcomed two daughters, Stephanie Lynn Fairley in 1973 and Sonya Rene’ Fairley in 1977.

Sometime later, Pamela began working at Ohio Budd Company in Carey, Ohio and married Timothy Barnett, with whom they welcomed a daughter, Ashley Lee Barnett in 1983. It was during this time that Pamela knew her calling was to be of service and being an advocate of education and an avid student, decided to return to school to further her education.

Pamela enrolled in Terra Technical College and earned an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement in 1994; and a year later, she completed a certificate for a course of study in Practical Nursing at the Bowling Green Area School of Practical Nursing.

It was through these degrees that she became a licensed practical nurse (LPN), beginning her career in service to others in Findlay, Ohio and later moving to Orient, Ohio where she took an LPN position at Orient Ohio Correctional Facility.

In 2002, Pamela met her true love and soul mate Stephen Maurice D’Angelo Bivona in Lima, Ohio. The two fell deeply in love and sometime later, Stephen surprised Pamela with a trip to Africa where they got married in a beautiful and intimate ceremony. Between the two of them, they loved and cared for a combined five children.

Full of life and grace, Pamela and Stephen enjoyed dancing and developed a love for line dances, becoming quite proficient in the West Coast Swing Hustle and the Night Club Country Two-Step. Pamela continued to dance even after Stephen’s untimely earthly departure in 2007, in honor of their shared passion for the pastime.

Wanting to be closer to family and loved ones, Pamela moved to Reynoldsburg, Ohio in 2009 to be with and help care for her grandchildren.

In June 2020, Pamela was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and although saddened by the news, she never gave up on herself, her ability to heal or her ability to meaningfully contribute to her family’s life. She continued to enjoy dancing, and was a huge sports fan, continuing to cheer on the Ohio State Buckeyes as well as other football and basketball teams she loved.

Pamela was predeceased in death by her husband Stephen Maurice D’Angelo Bivona, her parents Omer Thomas and Pauline Thomas, and her brother Tracy Thomas.

She is survived by her children: Stephanie Lynn Fairley, Sonya Rene’ Fairley, and Ashley Lee Barnett; her stepchildren Tami (Tim) Conley and Tony Bivona; as well as her beloved grandchildren Kaelyn Mequel Bowens, Harley Marie Barnett, Hannah Rene’ Carson, Kendyl Malia Bowens and a host of siblings and extended family.