* Helen P. Thomas; Student Health Director

Helen Patricia Thomas, who served as director of student health services at CalArts for the past 10 years, has died at a Northridge hospital. She was 67.

Mrs. Thomas died Friday of ovarian cancer, said her husband, James L. Thomas.

Born Helen Patricia Kennedy on Feb. 4, 1923 in Chicago, she came to California as a child and settled in the San Fernando Valley. She graduated from St. Ferdinand’s School in San Fernando and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from San Fernando Valley State College, now Cal State Northridge.

During her nursing career, Mrs. Thomas worked as a nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, for various private doctors, at schools and the Facey Medical Group Inc. in Mission Hills. Ten years ago she started at CalArts, where she handled medical and insurance matters for students.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years; sons James L. Thomas Jr. of Bensville, Australia, and John Patrick Thomas of San Fernando; daughter Christina Margaret Budd of Arleta; brothers Jerome Kennedy of Apple Valley, Calif., George Kennedy of Klamath, Ore., and Richard Kennedy of Lone Pine, Calif.; sister Mary C. Kennedy of Woodland Hills; and five grandchildren.

Visitation is planned from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m., both at Utter-McKinley Mortuary, 11071 Columbus Ave., in Mission Hills, which is handling the arrangements. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in the chapel at the San Fernando Mission, 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., in Mission Hills, with burial to follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Mrs. Thomas’ name to the American Cancer Society.