Edna Jean Thompson

Jean was born and raised in New Jersey. She met the love of her life, Chester, as a teenager when he was delivering their daily newspaper. Jean and Chester married in their 20’s and started their family in Pennsylvania. Chester’s career led them down the east coast ultimately settling in Central Florida to raise their family.

Jean was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was a health food enthusiast long before it was fashionable and always kept up with the latest trend in healthy eating. Jean was very creative and experimented in painting and writing. She exercised regularly with walks in parks, gardens, and amusement parks. In her 40’s she took up playing the harp and enjoyed performing at various venues over the next 50 years. Besides her love of God, her family and being with her family meant the most to her. She looked forward to traveling to spend time with family members living home and abroad.

Once her children left home, Jean turned her nurturing heart over the years towards her dogs Corky, Chablis, Tessie, and Roxy. They filled Jean’s life with warmth, comfort, happiness, and many memorable canine adventures that we would recall laughing with her over dinner while visiting.

Jean’s faith fueled her with a purpose and strength. She also was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, known to them affectionately as Bon Bon, Jean Jean, Mama Jean, and Granny. We have fond memories of the yearly ceremonial Happy Birthday song she and Chester would sing and leave on our voicemails. Their love left a legacy of seven children, eleven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Whether knowing her for her love of the Lord, exercising, eating for good health, being creative in art and literature, playing the harp, loving dogs or simply just genuinely caring for others, we all carry a memory that is special to our hearts

Edna Jean Thompson is survived by daughters Loraine Clewis (Rick), Nancy Lesch (Benny), Leah Armstead (Ian) and son Thomas Thompson (Betsy); eleven grandchildren Martin (Amanda), Robert (Elisa), John, Scott, Leslie, Sharon (Jens), Avery, Rachel (Kai), Kimmy, Krissy, Trey; and eleven great-grandchildren Kyla, Mason, Jaden, Ava, Sofia, Giulia, Lawrence, Max, Lucas, Oshan, Phoebe. Jean was predeceased by her parents, sister Florence Bumm, husband Chester Thompson, sons Mickey and Paul Thompson, and daughter Joanie Walker (Doug).

A funeral service to honor Jean’s life will take place on April 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation at 10:00 a.m. The service will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home (3207 W. Bearss Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33618). For those unable to attend the funeral service in person, please join the family to honor and celebrate Jean’s life by joining in at: https://youtu.be/PnmJF7oRtR8