Mary Lou (Clark) Thompson

December 21, 1935     ~     January 28, 2025

Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Mary Lou Thompson passed away peacefully at home on January 28, 2025. She is survived by a son, Scott (Susan) Thompson, of Granger, IN; daughter, Jennifer (Sterling) Leonard, of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; daughter, Suellen Thompson, of Mishawaka, IN and daughter-in-law, Susan Kaczynski Thompson. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Chloe (Myles) Reeves, of Pensacola, FL; Michael Thompson, of Chicago, IL; Molly (Trevor) Jones, of South Bend, IN, and two great-grandchildren, Ellowyn Reeves of Pensacola, and Thomas Jones, of South Bend. Preceding her in death were her parents, Elmer and Louise Clark, a brother, William Clark, husband, Jerry Thompson, son, Thomas Thompson, and son, Patrick Thompson, all of South Bend.

Mary Lou was born December 21, 1935, at the height of the Great Depression. Like many of her generation, the era inspired not only humility, perseverance, and toughness among those who survived, but a thirst for joy and happiness that fueled each day they lived. Mom loved life; she beat the drums in the John Adams marching band, loved to skate, go to the movies, and sing and dance to Fats Domino and Elvis. She was part of a large group of lifelong friends, most of whom she grew up with in River Park (known simply as “Club”); monthly meetings rotated from house to house, with hapless husbands dragged along for the ride. We used to sit at the top of the stairs to hear what everybody was laughing so hard about – it was probably good that we couldn’t quite make it out! She quilted, sewed, canned preserves, played cards, golf and tennis, was a great swimmer, and a fantastic cook…although I never met a woman from her generation that wasn’t!

Mary Lou worked for many years at the Cole Associates/DLZ architecture firm as executive secretary to the company president, and in later years, drove elderly folks to the store and their appointments for Real Services, but her main occupation was being Jerry’s wife, and mother to her five children; that was seven people, in a three-bedroom house, with one shower! Watching how their marriage worked, her ability to be everything to everyone in that family was amazing and continues to be a powerful influence in our lives. If you looked up synonyms for “loving unconditionally,” you might find a picture of our mom there.  Mary Lou continued to love life, despite health setbacks, the loss of her husband in 2001 and her two youngest sons in 2008 (Tommy) and 2017 (Pat). Through it all, she was humble, perseverant, and tough – and lived a life full of joy and happiness. Her smile, warm laugh, and kindness will live forever in our hearts.

There will be services on Monday, February 3, 2025, for Mary Lou Thompson at the Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46615. The viewing and visitation are 12:00-1:00 PM, with a service afterwards, ending with a brief service at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka.

Condolences for the family may be made at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

01/30/2025 djb

https://www.palmerfuneralhomes.com/obituary/MaryLou-Thompson