Obituary of Joan Harrold Thompson

Joan (Harrold) Thompson, of Burlington, formerly of Winchester, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, October 28, 2024. She was 89 years old. Joan was born in Cambridge, the youngest of two daughters born to Charles and Evelyn Harrold of Winchester. She graduated from Winchester High School in 1953 and attended the Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston.

Upon graduation from Katharine Gibbs, she worked at Beggs and Cobb, MIT Lincoln Labs and then took a position as an executive secretary at the National Company in Malden. There a coworker, Gloria Thompson, offered to introduce her to her brother - Arthur.  After first asking to “see his picture” Gloria presented Joan with a photo of Captain Arthur Thompson in his dress army military uniform, and she quickly agreed to the date.  After a short courtship Joan and Arthur married on October 13, 1956.  They purchased a home in Burlington on Laurel Hill Lane and lived there for the next 60 years.

Joan and Arthur added 3 Children between 1956 and 1960, Dale, Stephen and Lori.   It was a home filled with laughter, faith, and love.  Joan worked as a bookkeeper for Manion’s Star Market in Burlington for over 25 years, but always considered her first role of wife and mother as a true calling. 

Joan wanted her children to have an appreciation for culture and the arts so educational experiences like museums and the theater were always on the family itinerary. 

During summer vacations, Joan and Art brought the children to visit her parents in Florida where they made the annual pilgrimage to Disney World and all of the Florida attractions. 

In later years, when the grandchildren arrived, they spent countless summers at the Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch New Hampshire enjoying everything that resort had to offer. 

During retirement Joan and Art had the great good fortune of travelling to and visiting many countries in Europe. 

Joan gave her children a truly wonderful childhood and built in them a strong foundation based on faith, hope, charity and kindness toward others. She was always there to encourage and love them. 

Joan relished being a grandmother and loving each child in a special and unique way, nurturing them from infants, into adulthood, and eventually into parenthood.   She was thrilled to be “Nana” to her 5 great grandchildren.

Joan was very active in her church and community.  She was one of the original parishioners of St. Malachy’s Church when it opened in 1963.  She taught religious education, helped run their Christmas Bazaar, and had the honor of serving as President of the “Morgairs” from 1968-1969. 

Joan was also very active in local and national politics, working on Robert Kennedy’s Presidential Campaign as well as many of the local Burlington elections. She worked at the polls on election day and enjoyed playing bingo with her friends.  She was an accomplished seamstress and took great pride in making her daughter’s wedding gown. 

Joan truly had a wonderful life and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Joan was the beloved wife of the late Arthur W. Thompson, Jr.  She was the loving mother of Dale Strachan & her husband Joseph of Bedford, Stephen Thompson of Yarmouthport & his late wife Patricia, and Lori Delisle of Leominster.  She was the caring sister of the late Patricia Duncan. She was the proud grandmother of Jennifer Volpicelli & her husband Richard, Joseph Strachan & his wife Kendra, Colleen Becker & her husband Cameron, Emily Thompson & fiancée Eric Apgar, and Patrick Thompson. She was the great grandmother of Nicholas Volpicelli, James Volpicelli, Elliana Becker, Madelynn Becker, and Vivian Strachan. She was the proud aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Wednesday, October 30 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Thursday October 31 at 9:45 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Michael’s Church, Bedford at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.  Memorials in Joan’s name may be made to St. Michael’s Parish, www.bedfordcatholic.org, 90 Concord Road, Bedford, MA 01730.  For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net