Mary Gwen Thompson
Mary Gwen Thompson, 87, a 35-year resident of the New Paltz and Highland, NY areas and a previous resident of Florida, Illinois, Georgia and New Jersey died peacefully on Wednesday, December 31, 2017 at New Paltz Center, NY.
Born August 8, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late William and Geneva Palmer Tarzian. She graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, NY in 1948 and took art classes at Pratt Institute. After meeting her sweetheart at the New Paltz Teachers' College (State Normal School), on July 2, 1949, she married Paul Nichols Thompson in Brooklyn, NY who preceded her in death on December 23, 2003.
Mary Gwen took a break from her schooling to raise her family and travel with her husband who was in the military at the time. During her journey through life as another form of art she was always a Plantsman - a true enthusiast and knowleable gardener, one whom loved her plants and flowers for their beauty for which they truly radiated and made the world a more beautiful place ("Gwenny's Gardens"). In Florida she worked in the school system in the food service industry as a cook and later in management and ...[more]
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y of her children would get to see mom at lunch time. Relocating back to New York, her and her husband became members of the St Augustine's Church, Highland, NY and as her husband introduced adult religious education, she was active and committed by being a religious educator for the youth spanning almost two decades of dedicated service. She was a member of the Cardinal Spellman Columbiettes - Auxiliary #5800. At a later age she also decided to go back to school, the school where she once met her sweetheart, and finished her degree. Some 40 years later, Mary Gwen, was back on campus at SUNY- New Paltz at the same time as two of her children, one of whom she was in the same class with, and graduated in 1991 at the age of 63 with her BA in Art Education. Upon graduation, she got a position as an art teacher at a parochial school teaching art to children as well as substitute teaching primarily in the Highland school district. Known to many of her students for her strong and encouraging ways of art critique -always pushing the limits of potential to do better. A very strong- willed women and lover of various art forms and critique. A generation ends, and we shall miss you dearly. May you be at Peace now, until we meet again....
Mary Gwen is survived by four Children, Roberta Thompson Dunn of Kingston, NY, Deborah Thompson, Paul Thompson of St Cloud, FL and Nancy Thompson of New Paltz, NY, nine Grandchildren, Bree Angela Thompson, Julia Caci, India Reagan, Stephanie Thompson, Zachary Thompson, George LiBotte III, Renee Kemble, Cassandra Marquino-Thompson, Niko(Bun) Thompson, 11 great grandchildren, Ella Witmer, Gavanni Montero, Valentino Caci, Kaidyn and Aliana Reagan, Cienna, Aubrey and Taylor Kemble, Ian, Christian and McKenzie Libotte. She is preceded in death by one son, William P. Thompson, and one grandson, Paul F. LaManno.
A Graveside Funeral service is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at the Lloyd Cemetery, Highland, NY. Father Lynch of St Augustine's Church will officiate the service. In lieu of flowers please send donations to https://www.alz.org/ the Alzheimer's Association. For directions or to send online condolences please visit our website at www.torsonememorial.com
The family would like to thank the staff of Mountain View / New Paltz Center for their care, compassion, love and in truly providing our mother with a place to call home. "Unit A Girls" - Thank you for making her smile and shine again - through thick and thin. Delinda, this is for you... "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou
