Pearl (Thompson) Blackburn

Pearl Thompson Blackburn passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in the caring facility of Cape Regency in Centerville, Massachusetts on July 27, 2024. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Pearl was the third child of four children born to Mary Meyers Thompson and Fred Thompson. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph Blackburn, her sisters, Ethel Mumper, Mildred Snow, and her brother Theodore (Teddy) Thompson. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Robotham and her husband, Gerald of Hyannis, Massachusetts, their children, Kate Robotham Conway and her husband, Russell of Sagamore beach, Massachusetts, Joseph Robotham of Hyannis and their children, Kalli and Finnian Conway also of Sagamore Beach and Kathleen Bachta and her husband Robert of Scottsdale, Arizona and their son, Jacob Bachta of St. Louis, Missouri.

At eighteen years of age, Pearl met the love of her life, Joseph Blackburn, a WWII Marine who fought on Iwo Jima, after the war. Pearl married Joseph at 19 years of age and moved to Berlin Connecticut where they raised their family. Joseph was a commercial artist and during her children’s early ages, Pearl was a devoted homemaker. Later, Pearl would work very successfully in insurance, including Amica until moving to North Eastham, Cape Cod with her husband in 1978. There Pearl continued to work as an insurance broker while her husband worked for the Mosquito Pest Control until their retirement. Pearl and Joseph pursued their passions for art, gardening, the beach and their family. They were devotedly married for 64 years until Joseph’s death and described by neighbors as “the lovers.”

A powerful believer in both the Lord and her family, Pearl was passionate about being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, pouring her heart into her home, kitchen and organic gardens, which were often toured in North Eastham and admired by passerby's. Pearl exhibited many culinary skills and absolutely delighted her family and friends with her cooking, baking, as well as making jams and jellies using fruit from their gardens. Like her husband, Pearl was very artistic and learned the art of porcelain painting (firing her work in a home kiln). She was also a gifted and creative seamstress and quilter, making many beautiful dresses including her granddaughter’s wedding dress, as well as countless quilts for hospice over sixteen years, and in her final years, taking up sketching at Cape Regency. Pearl was a quiet woman who would claim she was not shy, but a listener, stating, “One can learn a great deal by listening.” A beautiful woman who graced the lives of people who knew her, she was regarded as one of the sweethearts at Cape Regency which was her home for over eight years. On behalf of her family, grateful thanks are extended to Cape Regency for their tender and supportive care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Congregational Church of Yarmouth, 329 Main Street, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675. All proceeds will go to support the work of The Board of Missions and will be greatly appreciated.