McDONOUGH – A. Marian Thompson, 95, long-time resident of Genegantslet Lake, McDonough and formerly of Binghamton, passed away Monday morning, June 1, 2009, at her home.
Born in July of 1913 in Binghamton, Marian was the daughter of James and Minnie Perry Eaton. She attended Binghamton Central High through the 10th grade when she had to leave school of get a job and help support her family. She became employed by the Johnson City plant of Endicott Johnson, and it was at E.J.’s that she met Charles Thompson, whom she married in Conklin on Oct. 3, 1931.
Marian was a hard worker all of her life, and the true matriarch of her family. During the hard times she took in laundries, baked bread to sell, and cared for many of the families in her neighborhood. Strong-willed because she had to be, Marian not only took care of her children but other members of her family who needed her. She was a woman who fought for her family and, not wanting to see her children grow up on city streets, made it her priority to get a place where they had room to play and grow. In 1946, the whole family pitched in and built the cabin on Genegantslet Lake, which they would enjoy during the summers, and where Marian and Charles lived following his retirement. After Charles passed away, Marian lived for a time with daughter Winifred, and spent her winters in Kentucky with her family. Following her heart attack, she lived with daughter Iona for her last five years. A long-time member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, she was a woman of strong faith. She also enjoyed music, having played piano and B flat clarinet during her early years, and at one time liked to play the harmonica.
Marian is survived by her children and their spouses: Iona M. and Arthur Cyr of McDonough, Winifred L. and John Preston of McDonough, RoseAnn Bailey of Castle Creek, and Marshall C.R. and Penny Thompson of Windsor; and by 16 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and several great great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles, and by two infant brothers who passed away before her birth.
Funeral services for Marian will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. from the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, Rt. 12 South, Norwich. Brother Duane Golden will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in the Glen Castle Cemetery of Castle Creek. Friends are invited to call at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday from 7-9 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with checks made payable to East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 5250 State Highway 12, Norwich, NY 13815.