TROY — Family and friends of Helen Thomas gathered at the St. George Orthodox Church here Thursday, where the legendary White House Correspondent was remembered at a memorial service in her honor.

The public knew Thomas as a tough and courageous journalist, but family members of the icon shared stories about who she was outside of the profession. 

Thomas’ niece, Suzanne Geha, who was influenced to pursue a career in journalism because of her aunt shared a secret with the crowd at the service that she says many people in the family don’t even know. 

“Helen Thomas was a beautiful, intelligent, interesting, witty, professional woman who was being pursued in Washington by eligible bachelors. I’m going to share a secret with you that many in my family don’t even know….Helen went on a date with JFK. She never bragged about it.” 

When asked about the date by a family member once, Geha says Thomas responded saying JFK ‘was too fresh.’ 

“What many people don’t know about Helen Thomas was that she had a tremendous sense of humor,”  Geha said. 

Thomas passed away peacefully July 20, at her Washington D.C. apartment, while surrounded by family and friends. She was 92. 

She is the daughter of Lebanese Christian immigrants. Geha says although her parents couldn’t afford that much, the Thomas household was a happy, lively home where Arabic food was always in the oven. 

Geha says although Thomas’ parents didn’t read, write or speak English all the Thomas children knew they were loved, cherished and respected. 

Thomas was married to Douglas Cornell who was a White House reporter for the Associated Press, and passed away in 1982. Thomas didn’t get married until she was 51. 

“Helen had other plans, marriage could wait and it would wait until she was 51 years old,” Geha said. 

She went on to say Fidel Castro once joked that the difference between the United States and Cuba, was that he didn’t have to answer questions from Thomas. 

President Jimmy Carter sent Thomas’ family a condolence letter calling her not only a pioneer for women, but for all White House journalists, and said she would serve as an example for generations to come. 

President Bill Clinton had also written a letter to the family saying she was truly one of a kind, and set a high bar for her colleagues in the White House Press Corps. Clinton said she earned a place in history for her intelligence and pursuit of the truth. 

Thomas’ ashes were buried following the service at a Detroit cemetary. A vase containing her ashes sat on a table near her photo during the service. She was cremated earlier. 

“No one would intimidate Helen, she always had a sharp question and a huge sense of curiosity,” said Jon Wolman, publisher of the Detroit News. 

Geha says Thomas always considered herself the eyes and ears of the American public. “She could be where they could not be, and her goal was to hold presidents accountable, have them explain their actions and inactions, and keep the public informed,” Geha said. 

Thomas covered 11 presidents from Dwight Eisenhower, to Barack Obama for the United Press International and Hearst Newspapers. She wrote five books and was the first female member of the National Press Club, White House Correspondents’ Association and the Gridiron Club.  

Geha described Thomas as one of the most passionate, generous people to inhabit the earth. She says Thomas was easily moved to tears, and had great empathy for the plight of the underprivileged. 

“I think she was a great voice for the Arab community…There is a lot of pride in our community when people elevate to such a level that very few can get,” said Andria Ajlouni-Bojrab, columnist for Birmingham, Bloomfield Observer and Eccentric. 

Thomas opened doors for women in the profession, at a time when it was dominated by men. “When we have a women like Helen breaking down all those barriers, once she opened those floodgates she brought a Tsunami of women and other minorities with her in all the professions not just journalism,” Geha said.

Several Arab Americans attended the service.  Ed Deeb, President and CEO of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association says Thomas was a role model to Arab Americans, especially to women in the community. 

“She was a giant in the community. If there was ever a woman who could break the glass ceiling it was Helen,” Deeb said. 

Thomas is survived by her three sisters, and several nieces and nephews.