Eugenia Thomas-McCleary

Eugenia Thomas McCleary (Gena), age 73, passed away on Monday November 28th, 2022. She was born December 22nd, 1948, to Mabel Owens in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gena Graduated Hampton University with Bachelor of Arts (BA) in accounting with honors. She was a proud Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority member. After Graduation she began work at Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L) in the computer systems Division. She departed PP&L and began her employment at the pharmaceutical company, Merck Sharpe & Dohme. She initially worked in Merck’s Information Technology area as a coding specialist, ultimately ascending to the management executive level. She retired as the Director of Employee Development. She was a passionate advocate and mentor for a generation of diverse professionals at Merck, and elsewhere. Following her retirement from Merck, she was a realtor who helped dozens of people find homes in the Philadelphia area. As a realtor, she quickly became a member of the Million-Dollar club, those who sold millions of dollars in real estate each year.  She was an avid reader and book lover, who passed on that love to her children (and grandchildren). She was also a passionate traveler. She visited every continent, except Antarctica.

Gena, called “GiGi” by her grandchildren was, and will always be, a source of warmth and inspiration. She held a deep love for her friends and family. She was predeceased by her mother, Mabel Owens, and is survived by her husband, Sidney McCleary, daughter, Melanie Barnes, son-in-law Jesse Barnes, son, Macky McCleary, daughter-in-law Kate McCleary, and grandchildren, Owen Barnes (8), Eliza Barnes (6), Camilla McCleary (12) and Lionel McCleary (8) and countless other family and close friends.  A memorial visitation will be held Saturday December 10, 2022, from 1pm to 3pm at Varcoe- Thomas Funeral Home Doylestown, PA Condolences can be made to the family at The House of Jackson Memorial Chapel 546 Thompson Ave. Donora PA 15033 In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating to habitat for humanity, a cause she supported for many years.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eugenia Thomas-McCleary, please visit our floral store.