Charlene Thompson

Charlene M. Thompson (Kent), age 92. Selfless, loyal, loving, dedicated, cultured, and generous. Beloved wife to William for 33 years; loving mother to Char (Ted) Pierce, the late Kelly (Mark) Johnson, and the late Tim (Nancy); caring grandmother to Kate, Aidan, Andrew, Elyse (Carlos), Erin (Nader), and Will (Terri); proud great-grandmother to Orion, Christian, Grace, Julian, Liam, Wyatt, Archie, and Louis; kind aunt to Deri and Tama. Preceded by her parents, sister, niece, husband, son, and daughter.

Charlene Margaret Thompson (nee Kent) passed away peacefully on September 27, 2024. At her side were three generations of strong, caring, loyal women she helped inspire.

Born in Chicago in 1932 the daughter of a congregational minister, Charlene was destined to see the world. Chicago gave way to Maine for a time, then Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she got her first job at Bell Telephone at the age of 16 and would secretly listen in on celebrity telephone conversations.

In 1951, she left home to attend Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, and by the early 1960s, was back in Chicago, living first in the YWCA for a spell, then in an apartment on Webster as she worked for the Leo Burnett advertising agency.

She dreamed of more. Charlene traveled to Israel and worked on a kibbutz, landed a job with a different ad agency in the Wrigley Building, spent significant time crisscrossing Europe, became a ski bum in Aspen.

And then she met William Thompson over a drink at Butch McGuire’s. In a story Charlene loved to tell, on one of their first dates, Bill only had enough money for them to have one drink each and split a plate of Welsh rarebit. They went dancing afterward.

In 1967, they married. Charlene became the mother that Tim and Kelly deserved, and in 1969, their beloved daughter Char was born.

Charlene embraced her new role in life. A member of the Infant Welfare Society and an volunteer at the Nearly New Shop consignment store, Charlene poured herself into others. She founded the volleyball team at Char’s school, and became a Girl Scout Troop leader for Kelly. Together with Bill, she skied, she sailed, she golfed (though she hated it), and she immersed herself in the Beverly neighborhood that surrounded her.

In 1982, Bill was diagnosed with an upper motor neuron disease. For the next 18 years, she served as Bill’s fiercely loyal caregiver, an example of love later emulated by her daughters in her later years.

Charlene was a patron of the arts, had a discerning eye for antiques, was a generous gifter and a talented cook. When she laughed, she would snort and fill the room with joy.

Predeceased by her parents Charles and Irene, sister Rosemary, niece Mindy Char, husband William, son Timothy, and daughter Kelly. She is survived by her daughter Char (Ted) Pierce; her grandchildren Kate, Aidan, Andrew, Elyse (Carlos), Erin (Nader), and Will (Terri); her nieces Deri and Tama; her great-grandchildren Orion, Christian, Grace, Julian, Liam, Wyatt, Archie, and Louis; and an adventurous, loving tenacious spirit that lives on in each of them.

Visitation Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., with a Service to Celebrate Charlene's Life to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. A live-stream of the service will be available. Please visit Charlene's obituary on Colonial Chapel's website at colonialchapel.com to view the live-stream of the service. The link is posted below.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, 3600 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 are appreciated. CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE

CLICK HERE FOR CHARLENE THOMPSON'S FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE-STREAM LINK

Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400