Obituary for Virginia B Thompson
Virginia (Ginny) Thompson passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her beloved family on March 14, 2022. Her passing will leave a tremendous void upon Earth, as her kindness, generosity, and love influenced everyone who was a part of her life. She passed at the age of 73, after fighting a courageous battle with breast cancer.
She was born and raised in Paterson, NJ to Dr. Alphonse and Barbara Brancone. She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Thompson, who was her main caretaker throughout this time, as well as her two daughters, Stephanie and Christina, her three grandsons Dominic, Anthony and Trevor, all six of her siblings, and many nieces & nephews. Although she will be sorely missed, she will always be remembered, and her family will continue to honor her legacy. Virginia Rose was adored by everyone who met her.
Virginia enrolled at Rider University shortly after her sixteenth birthday, where she majored in both French and German, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then continued on to a lifetime career of serving others in various roles, in Human Resources, the Admissions Office at Bloomfield College, and spent most of her time as a compassionate paraprofessional working with Kindergarten students in the town where she resided throughout her married life.
Ginny & Bob, as they were lovingly referred to by those who knew them well, dated for a couple of years before getting married on April 22, 1972. They enjoyed a memorable Honeymoon in Hawaii, with side visits to both Las Vegas and San Francisco. The following year, before their children came along, they traveled through Europe with Bob’s sister and her husband for a couple weeks. Once their two daughters were born, they made yearly trips to Florida, some winter getaways to Great Gorge and the Poconos, and also took a very exciting 3-week trip out west to Arizona, Nevada, and all down the Coast of California, from San Francisco to San Diego! Childhood summers with the girls included Fourth of July visits with her sister, Carla, and her family at their shore house. The Thompsons often made side trips to Cape May then. Late summer vacations were spent at the family house in Schroon Lake, NY. The couple was happily married for one-month shy of 50 years.
Once retired from her most recent job with the Glen Ridge School System, Ginny enjoyed a fulfilling & loving life with her close-knit family. She & Bob often traveled down to Virginia to visit Stephanie’s family, and they made many of their own trips to Cape May, sometimes with Christina’s family, as well as fun-filled trips for all to meet halfway in Baltimore. Time with family was also had in Florida, as mentioned before, and, of course, all the precious annual trips up to The Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. She was a proud “Nana” to her three special grandsons. Spending time with them always brought out her cheerful attitude and bright smile!
Wake services will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Caggiano Memorial Home (62 Grove St.) in Montclair, NJ.
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The Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 10am at Saint Cassian Roman Catholic Church (187 Bellevue Ave.) in Upper Montclair, NJ.
***Special Notes:
*Following the Funeral Mass, there will be a private service at the cemetery in Paterson. To preserve the family intimacy at the interment of ashes, and repast, the family is limiting these events to only immediate family and Virginia’s siblings/spouses and first generation cousins/spouses. The Thompson family appreciates everyone’s understanding.
**In place of flowers, the family is requesting charity donations be made in Ginny’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for which she has been a long-time donor. Address:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105
She was born and raised in Paterson, NJ to Dr. Alphonse and Barbara Brancone. She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Thompson, who was her main caretaker throughout this time, as well as her two daughters, Stephanie and Christina, her three grandsons Dominic, Anthony and Trevor, all six of her siblings, and many nieces & nephews. Although she will be sorely missed, she will always be remembered, and her family will continue to honor her legacy. Virginia Rose was adored by everyone who met her.
Virginia enrolled at Rider University shortly after her sixteenth birthday, where she majored in both French and German, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then continued on to a lifetime career of serving others in various roles, in Human Resources, the Admissions Office at Bloomfield College, and spent most of her time as a compassionate paraprofessional working with Kindergarten students in the town where she resided throughout her married life.
Ginny & Bob, as they were lovingly referred to by those who knew them well, dated for a couple of years before getting married on April 22, 1972. They enjoyed a memorable Honeymoon in Hawaii, with side visits to both Las Vegas and San Francisco. The following year, before their children came along, they traveled through Europe with Bob’s sister and her husband for a couple weeks. Once their two daughters were born, they made yearly trips to Florida, some winter getaways to Great Gorge and the Poconos, and also took a very exciting 3-week trip out west to Arizona, Nevada, and all down the Coast of California, from San Francisco to San Diego! Childhood summers with the girls included Fourth of July visits with her sister, Carla, and her family at their shore house. The Thompsons often made side trips to Cape May then. Late summer vacations were spent at the family house in Schroon Lake, NY. The couple was happily married for one-month shy of 50 years.
Once retired from her most recent job with the Glen Ridge School System, Ginny enjoyed a fulfilling & loving life with her close-knit family. She & Bob often traveled down to Virginia to visit Stephanie’s family, and they made many of their own trips to Cape May, sometimes with Christina’s family, as well as fun-filled trips for all to meet halfway in Baltimore. Time with family was also had in Florida, as mentioned before, and, of course, all the precious annual trips up to The Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. She was a proud “Nana” to her three special grandsons. Spending time with them always brought out her cheerful attitude and bright smile!
Wake services will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Caggiano Memorial Home (62 Grove St.) in Montclair, NJ.
*****
The Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 10am at Saint Cassian Roman Catholic Church (187 Bellevue Ave.) in Upper Montclair, NJ.
***Special Notes:
*Following the Funeral Mass, there will be a private service at the cemetery in Paterson. To preserve the family intimacy at the interment of ashes, and repast, the family is limiting these events to only immediate family and Virginia’s siblings/spouses and first generation cousins/spouses. The Thompson family appreciates everyone’s understanding.
**In place of flowers, the family is requesting charity donations be made in Ginny’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for which she has been a long-time donor. Address:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105