Doris J. Thompson

Doris Joan Thompson, age 88, of Geneva, passed away Monday, November 25, 2024. Doris was born December 30, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Richard and Lily (Carlson) Schwendeman. She married Donald E. Thompson on Nov 8, 1958. Don died at age 93 about a year ago, on November 6th, 2023, just days short of 65 years of marriage. Doris is survived by an older sister Margaret Murdoch of Arlington Heights and an older brother Richard of Lansing, MI; and six children, Patricia Schreiber of Wheaton, James (Patricia) of Campton Hills, Diane (Andrew) Marek of Geneva, Judith (Tom) Emery of Texas, Daniel (Amy) of Mundelein and Andrew (Julianne) of Connecticut; and 24 grandchildren, Bryan (Emma) Olver, Nathan Olver, Kayla (Corey) Reagan, Anna (Ben) Gasper, Melinda Schreiber, Jacob (Mia) Thompson, William Thompson, Joseph (Melinda) Marek, Daniel (Shelbie) Marek, Peter (Skylar) Marek, Paul (Kendall) Marek, Jack Marek, Matthew (Jennifer) Emery, Sarah (Mark) Duvall, Kathryn Emery, Nicole (Joseph) Castagnola, Lauren (Harry) Meyer, Caroline (Cole) Schluter, Andrew Thompson, Daniel, Michael, Ella, Ryan Thompson; and 29 great-grandchildren and counting; and many other dear relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Margaret Thompson Hoepfner, and great-grandson Judah Reagan.

Doris graduated from Taft High School in Park Ridge IL in 1953, and chose nursing and care-giving as her career, graduating from Northwestern University’s School of Nursing in 1957 and practiced as an RN at Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital, until she married Don in Chicago, and moved to Springfield, IL.

Dorey & Don lived and raised their six children in Springfield, making their first home in an apartment near Washington Park, which soon became too small, so they moved to a small ranch house on Barberry Dr, which also became too small, finally settling in a larger home the next block over on Briarcliff Dr. Over the years in Springfield, Doris raised a loving family that adored her, created lasting friendships, won regularly at her bridge and bowling leagues, volunteered her time at her children’s schools and ‘meals on wheels’, shared her love of baking at every holiday (10 different types of cookies, her cinnamon rolls, and pies at Christmas!), and honed her strong Catholic faith at Christ the King. Upon Don’s retirement, and Doris’s loss of sight due to early onset macular degeneration, they moved to Geneva IL to be closer to family and a summer residence in Pentwater, MI. The Pentwater cottage, which was her dream harking back to Doris’s childhood excursions to the Michigan beaches with her siblings, remains the family summertime paradise for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Doris’s family remembers her best for her unwavering dedication to her family across countless holiday and summertime gatherings in their welcoming homes in Springfield, Geneva and Pentwater and for her tireless work ethic. She created beautiful and exceptionally clean homes (yes, we really did wash the walls and ceilings), teaching all of her family the intrinsic value of hard work, humility, and excellence in all manner of deeds, small and large. Some of Doris’ favorite things were the Chicago Cubs, listening to Frank Sinatra while cooking, enjoying a manhattan in the evening at sunset with Don, and Lilacs.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov 29 th at 11:00 am until time of the Funeral Mass at noon, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Rd, Geneva. Doris’s ashes will be interred in the forested dunes of Pentwater Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the Greenfields of Geneva
Team Member Appreciation Fund. Address checks to:

Lifespace Foundation-GF/TMAF, 0N801 Friendship Way, Geneva IL
60134
For more information call 630-232-8233 or see www.malonefh.com.

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