Blossom was born in Cavaliers, Jamaica on April 3, 1938, second child of Bernice and Sydney Thompson. Her older brother Carl (Dixie) Thompson passed away in January 2011. Blossom was always a focused, independent, and determined person. After graduating from boarding school Oberlin High school, she travelled to England to attend nursing school at Leeds Maternity Hospital in Bristol. Blossom received her training in general nursing and midwifery, and worked as a midwife for the hospital. Her time in England sparked her interest in travel, as she visited many cities all over Europe during this time.
After finishing her training in Bristol, Blossom returned to Jamaica and worked for a short time at the University College of the West Indies hospital in Mona, Jamaica. Seeking to broaden her horizons, Blossom immigrated to the United States and lived with family in Connecticut for a short time. However, she eventually made her home in Brooklyn, New York, and continued her nursing career, earning her certification as a Registered Nurse.
In 1968, Blossom gave birth to her only child, Charles, whom she raised lovingly and singlehandedly. Her priority was to instill in him, the importance of education, family, and travel. Over the years, they traveled to a number of states in the US, to Europe, to the Bahamas, and to the Caribbean. She ensured that he received a good education, encouraging him to go away to boarding high school and university.
Over the 35 years in NY, Blossom worked at Caledonia Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Brookdale Hospital. She spent most of these years working in the delivery rooms, where she enjoyed bringing life into the world.
In 1998, Blossom retired from nursing and moved to Florida, getting away from the cold and snow in New York and bringing her closer to family. In her retirement, she spent time volunteering at a food pantry, immersing herself in her studies of Christian Science, playing golf, and competing in her longtime pastime, Scrabble.
For decades, Blossom has loved playing Scrabble. Whether she was sitting with her friends, or playing “with friends” on her computer, she was an extremely competitive player. While in Florida, she took numerous opportunities to compete in tournaments all over the east coast, and had a very successful record, often winning cash prizes. In addition, she joined her scrabble club on cruises and trips to Peru and Greece.
During her first year in Florida, Blossom took golf lessons and soon discovered her love for the sport. She joined a women’s golf league each year and found success in her golf games. For a few years, she competed in two different leagues, and played two rounds per week. An extremely competitive player, Blossom scored in the top few in many of the league tournaments.
Blossom spent her 20-year retirement engaging in all the activities she loved. She gave of herself constantly and expressed love to family and friends. She is survived by her brothers, Bobby, Leighton, Rudolph, Alan, Lloyd, and her son, Charles. She will be forever remembered by her numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends.
A Celebration of Life for Blossom Thompson will be held on Dec 23, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Babione – Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center at 1100 North Federal Highway, in Boca Raton Florida.
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