Judith Ann Thompson, a name synonymous with family. Her family was the most important part of her world and that community included her children, mother, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, as well as close friends and co-workers. She always made seeing/helping/connecting with kin a priority. After her mother died 10 years ago Judi became the natural and obvious matriarch of the family; making sure we all got together for reunions, holidays, special occasions.

There were many things about Judi that made her special and one that comes to mind first off is her sense of humor...laughter was always on the verge of erupting. And, like her mother, her laughter would consume her and infect anyone within proximity.

Judi was independent and determined, accomplishing whatever she set her mind to. She created a beautiful life for herself and her daughters always making sure that they were taken care of. Judi had an adventuresome spirit and was always planning on what she wanted to explore next.

Alzheimer disease took a toll on her mind but somehow helped her to be more in touch with her emotions. She was able to express her feelings more easily as time went by and she became less guarded and more connected to others on that level. She was able to express the love that she had fiercely guarded for most of her life.

She left a huge gaping hole in her wake in terms of the love and laughter which embodied her life. If we each internalized that and shared it with others this world would be a better place for all.


On the Death of the Beloved: John O'Donohue
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again



In lieu of flowers please send donations to:
Alzheimer's Association
Foundation for Foster Children
or
Special Olympics