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BORN
1932
DIED
2024
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Patricia Thompson Obituary
Thompson
Patricia Ann
Thompson
February 7, 1932
March 27, 2024
Patricia Ann Marie Sullivan Thompson, 92, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on March 27, 2024, after a short illness due to a stroke. She was surrounded by her loving children, Maureen, David, and Patrick.
Patsy (to her family), Pat (in adulthood), or Miss Patricia (in her later years) was born on February 7, 1932, to James D. and Eileen (Moriarty) Sullivan in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of seven in a big, boisterous Irish Catholic family and her youth was deeply impacted by the Irish roots of her immigrant parents, her deep commitment to the Catholic faith, the Depression, and World War 2. Patsy graduated from St Thomas Aquinas High School in 1949, after attending all 12 years of her primary and secondary education at the Catholic schools connected to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
After graduating from high school, she joined her older sister Eileen at George D. Hall Publishers, working in downtown Boston for about five years.
In 1954, inspired by her sister Eileen's and her brothers Ed's and Dan's military service, Patsy joined the Marine Corps. She attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and would later tell stories of marching in the humid summer heat, stepping over other recruits who had passed out. After boot camp she was assigned to the Presidio in Monterey, California. She provided administrative and secretarial services to other Marines, and it was here that she met her future husband, Clarence Albert (Bert/Tommy) Thompson, a decorated WW 2 hero and former Prisoner of War. Pat and Tommy went on to have 4 children, Maureen, John, David and Patrick.
After marrying in 1955, Pat and Tommy moved to Anchorage, Alaska where Tommy was the regional recruiter for the Marine Corps. After two years and two children (Maureen, 1956, and John, 1957), the family moved to Vista, California, where Tommy was assigned to nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Pat worked as a proof-reader at The Oceanside Blade-Tribune. Son David was born in Oceanside in 1961.
After five years of enjoying life in sunny and uncrowded southern California of the early 1960s, Tommy retired from the Corps, having served over 20 years. The family then moved to Vienna, Virginia to be closer to Pat's family in the Boston area. Unfortunately, John suffered from chronic asthma and doctors advised that he live somewhere dry for his health. The family headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado, the place they ended up calling home, and the place where Patrick was born in 1970.
Pat had a warm, engaging smile for everyone and a laugh that would brighten a room. She had a zest for life and a liveliness that attracted people to her. She was passionate about her volunteer work at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, volunteering with many committees over the years. She was just as dedicated to many organizations which worked with the underprivileged, donating to several each month. And she was a very hard worker. While in Colorado Springs, she worked at Silver Key Senior Services, Kelly Girl, and Sacred Heart. While she lived in San Antonio, she worked at the San Antonio Police Department and ultimately at the University of Texas at San Antonio Athletic Department. Here she stayed for the final 10 years of her working life, making many strong friendships with the coaches and students.
Pat nursed her husband Tommy through his lung and brain cancer for several months in 1991 and 1992. After he passed away at age 74 in 1992, she retired, returning to her beloved Colorado Springs in 1994, purchasing a home on the same west side of town where her children grew up.
Pat was very active with Veterans groups, primarily the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor (ADBC) Memorial Society as well as the local groups, Marine Corps League, Pikes Peak Detachment #29 and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of American Ex-POWs. She made many friends in these groups attended many annual conferences across the United States with the ADBC. Ruth Wilbur and her daughter, Linda Van Skike, were instrumental in helping Pat get to many of the conferences, where they could honor and keep alive their husbands' service and sacrifices for the next generation. A particular highlight was when Pat, Ruth, Maureen and Linda were hosted on a trip for WW 2 veterans and widows to Japan, funded by the U.S. State Department and Foreign Ministry of the Japan as part of a reconciliation effort between the two countries. They learned a great deal about their husbands' Prisoner of War experiences in Japan and about the hospitality of the Japanese people. A special treat was meeting then-U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, daughter of America's first Catholic president.
Pat's son John moved into her home in 2004 due to health problems, where she and son David nursed him for the next seven years until John lost his battle with COPD in 2011. Just a few months later she lost her house in the Waldo Canyon Fire of 2012. Exhibiting the same strength, resilience and independence she showed all her life, she rebuilt on the same site and in 2014 moved into a beautiful new home, one better suited to her age and needs.
Other treasured memories include three trips to Ireland over the years with various family members, including one with her sister Barbara. It was a particular treat to show her grandsons Sam and David the country of their great-grandparents' births.
Pat was predeceased by her husband Tommy in 1992, their son John in 2011, her parents, and her sisters Mary Shea and Eileen Moriarty and brothers Jimmy, Ed, and Dan Sullivan. She is survived by her sister Barbara Taylor, daughter Maureen (John Cole), sons David and Patrick, grandchildren Sam and David Cole and Christopher and Sean Thompson, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2030 W. Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, on April 26 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Semper Fi and America's Fund, Donate - Semper Fi & America's Fund (thefund.org) https://thefund.org/donate/
Patricia Ann
Thompson
February 7, 1932
March 27, 2024
Patricia Ann Marie Sullivan Thompson, 92, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on March 27, 2024, after a short illness due to a stroke. She was surrounded by her loving children, Maureen, David, and Patrick.
Patsy (to her family), Pat (in adulthood), or Miss Patricia (in her later years) was born on February 7, 1932, to James D. and Eileen (Moriarty) Sullivan in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of seven in a big, boisterous Irish Catholic family and her youth was deeply impacted by the Irish roots of her immigrant parents, her deep commitment to the Catholic faith, the Depression, and World War 2. Patsy graduated from St Thomas Aquinas High School in 1949, after attending all 12 years of her primary and secondary education at the Catholic schools connected to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
After graduating from high school, she joined her older sister Eileen at George D. Hall Publishers, working in downtown Boston for about five years.
In 1954, inspired by her sister Eileen's and her brothers Ed's and Dan's military service, Patsy joined the Marine Corps. She attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and would later tell stories of marching in the humid summer heat, stepping over other recruits who had passed out. After boot camp she was assigned to the Presidio in Monterey, California. She provided administrative and secretarial services to other Marines, and it was here that she met her future husband, Clarence Albert (Bert/Tommy) Thompson, a decorated WW 2 hero and former Prisoner of War. Pat and Tommy went on to have 4 children, Maureen, John, David and Patrick.
After marrying in 1955, Pat and Tommy moved to Anchorage, Alaska where Tommy was the regional recruiter for the Marine Corps. After two years and two children (Maureen, 1956, and John, 1957), the family moved to Vista, California, where Tommy was assigned to nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Pat worked as a proof-reader at The Oceanside Blade-Tribune. Son David was born in Oceanside in 1961.
After five years of enjoying life in sunny and uncrowded southern California of the early 1960s, Tommy retired from the Corps, having served over 20 years. The family then moved to Vienna, Virginia to be closer to Pat's family in the Boston area. Unfortunately, John suffered from chronic asthma and doctors advised that he live somewhere dry for his health. The family headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado, the place they ended up calling home, and the place where Patrick was born in 1970.
Pat had a warm, engaging smile for everyone and a laugh that would brighten a room. She had a zest for life and a liveliness that attracted people to her. She was passionate about her volunteer work at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, volunteering with many committees over the years. She was just as dedicated to many organizations which worked with the underprivileged, donating to several each month. And she was a very hard worker. While in Colorado Springs, she worked at Silver Key Senior Services, Kelly Girl, and Sacred Heart. While she lived in San Antonio, she worked at the San Antonio Police Department and ultimately at the University of Texas at San Antonio Athletic Department. Here she stayed for the final 10 years of her working life, making many strong friendships with the coaches and students.
Pat nursed her husband Tommy through his lung and brain cancer for several months in 1991 and 1992. After he passed away at age 74 in 1992, she retired, returning to her beloved Colorado Springs in 1994, purchasing a home on the same west side of town where her children grew up.
Pat was very active with Veterans groups, primarily the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor (ADBC) Memorial Society as well as the local groups, Marine Corps League, Pikes Peak Detachment #29 and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of American Ex-POWs. She made many friends in these groups attended many annual conferences across the United States with the ADBC. Ruth Wilbur and her daughter, Linda Van Skike, were instrumental in helping Pat get to many of the conferences, where they could honor and keep alive their husbands' service and sacrifices for the next generation. A particular highlight was when Pat, Ruth, Maureen and Linda were hosted on a trip for WW 2 veterans and widows to Japan, funded by the U.S. State Department and Foreign Ministry of the Japan as part of a reconciliation effort between the two countries. They learned a great deal about their husbands' Prisoner of War experiences in Japan and about the hospitality of the Japanese people. A special treat was meeting then-U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, daughter of America's first Catholic president.
Pat's son John moved into her home in 2004 due to health problems, where she and son David nursed him for the next seven years until John lost his battle with COPD in 2011. Just a few months later she lost her house in the Waldo Canyon Fire of 2012. Exhibiting the same strength, resilience and independence she showed all her life, she rebuilt on the same site and in 2014 moved into a beautiful new home, one better suited to her age and needs.
Other treasured memories include three trips to Ireland over the years with various family members, including one with her sister Barbara. It was a particular treat to show her grandsons Sam and David the country of their great-grandparents' births.
Pat was predeceased by her husband Tommy in 1992, their son John in 2011, her parents, and her sisters Mary Shea and Eileen Moriarty and brothers Jimmy, Ed, and Dan Sullivan. She is survived by her sister Barbara Taylor, daughter Maureen (John Cole), sons David and Patrick, grandchildren Sam and David Cole and Christopher and Sean Thompson, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2030 W. Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, on April 26 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Semper Fi and America's Fund, Donate - Semper Fi & America's Fund (thefund.org) https://thefund.org/donate/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Gazette on Apr. 21, 2024.
Memories and Condolences
for Patricia Thompson
1 Entry
Beth Molesworth
June 21, 2024
So sorry for the family's loss. Pat and I started working at UTSA the same day and became good friends. She was such a wonderful person.
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