Patricia "Patty" Helene Thompson

Patricia “Patty” Helene Thompson, 81, of Lewisberry died Sunday, June 30, 2024 at her home surrounded by family.

She was born March 18, 1943 in Bronx, NY, to the late Valentine J. and Rose (Sebuski) Brull. She was also preceded in death by her sister Carol Wehmeyer. 

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, William H. “Tom” Thompson; daughters, Valerie Pogue (David), Elizabeth Thompson, Christine Rittereiser (Glenn), and Caroline Thompson (Rand Thomas); siblings, Rosemary Hochberg, John Brull (Anne Marie), and Linda Hyland; grandchildren, Kirsten Rittereiser, Annika Rittereiser, and Ruslan Rittereiser; and many nieces and nephews. 

After graduating from St. Pius High School in 1960, Patty worked for three years as a secretary for Colgate in Manhattan, a short career she enjoyed very much. Patty met her husband on a semi-blind date at a Navy-Notre Dame football game in Philadelphia in 1960. She became a Navy wife after Tom’s graduation in 1963. During the early part of her marriage, she managed several household moves to San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; Pensacola, FL; Brunswick, GA; Whidby Island, WA; Alameda, CA; Brunswick, GA again; and De Kalb, TX; finally settling in Lewisberry in 1977. 

Patty devoted her life to serving God and caring for others. While living in Lewisberry, she served her community by volunteering with the borough election board and the former Ladies Auxiliary of the Lewisberry Fire Company. She enjoyed her backyard garden and generously shared the fruits of her labors with neighbors and friends. As a member of St. Theresa parish, she taught classes for the RCIA program, guiding many people in their understanding of the Catholic faith as they joined the Church. She managed the church library and magazine racks for many years. Over the years, she led several weekly bible studies and participated in various prayer groups and a Renew group. She also handled registrations for the Retrouvaille program of the Diocese of Harrisburg for twenty years. She was very disappointed when she had to stop her involvement in these activities due to declining health. 

Her family will remember her as a hard-working, patient, kind, caring, and generous person, who always had a listening ear for those in need and who guided many people on their spiritual journeys. She will be missed by all of us. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Homeland Hospice and our dear friend Kim White, who helped us care for Patty in her final days. 

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30am Saturday at Parthemore Funeral Home, New Cumberland. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am Saturday at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1300 Bridge Street, New Cumberland. The interment will be held at a later date at Rolling Green Memorial Park, Camp Hill. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.