Katherine Elaine (White) Thompson

Katherine E. (White) Thompson, of Reading, passed away peacefully on Saturday December 30th, 2023 at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading, after a brief illness. She was 98 years of age.

Katherine (Kay) was born in Reading to Adolph and Laura White. She was a graduate of Reading High School. Following her graduation, she worked in Boston for Allied Van Lines for 18 years. She was married in 1964 and following the birth of her son William, she lived in many locations, including northern California, the Nevada desert, the Mediterranean Coast of France, Quebec City, and the Eastern Townships lakes region of southern Quebec, Canada, where she loved to entertain at her lake house. She is remembered for her hospitality and delicious breakfasts.

Returning to Massachusetts following her retirement, she delighted in experiencing the multicultural atmosphere of Union Square, Somerville, where she resided for eleven years, before finally resettling to Reading, the town of her birth, for another eleven years. She liked to say that she ‘had come full circle’. Kay was close to her family and nothing pleased her more than spending holidays with various family members, to many of whom she was known as their beloved ‘Auntie Kay’ who instantly enlivened the room with her bright smile and infectious laugh. Aside from her family, she was most proud of her work as a remedial education teacher working with troubled youth in the 1970s. When that special program ended, she continued her career as an administrative assistant at an English language high school in suburban Quebec City. Parents of students would often ask to speak with her directly as she had a ‘way with words’ and she would often allay their fears surrounding the raising of teenagers. She believed in the value of every person. Always stylish and elegant, she was also approachable, friendly and completely unpretentious. She radiated a kindness that attracted people wherever she went.

Katherine is the beloved wife of the late William L. Thompson. She is the devoted and cherished mother of William L. Thompson. She is the loving sister of Arthur White, Virginia Anderson, Nancy Dell'Orfano and her husband Ralph, and the late Lawrence, Norman, Herbert and Walter White, Madeline Hubbard, Beatrice Cincotta and her infant sister Mary White. She is the dear friend of Richard Summers of Boston, Gloria DeCicco of Reading, Adrienne Hogue of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. She is the cherished aunt to many loving nieces and nephews and was beloved by many other close friends and family.

A Funeral Celebrating Katherine's Eternal Life will be held in St. Athanasius Church 300 Haverhill St. READING on Friday January 26th, 2024 at 10:30 am.

Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Thursday January 25th, 2024 from 4 pm to 7 pm in the funeral home. Parking attendants and elevator available.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Katherine to Sawtelle Family Hospice House 320 Haverhill St. Reading MA 01867.