Dorothy "Dot" Louise Thompson

November 29, 1949 - August 31, 2025

Dorothy “Dot” Thompson, born on November 29, 1949, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the age of 75. She leaves behind a legacy of joy, generosity, and most of all unconditional love.

Dot was born in Elizabeth, NJ to Blanche and Johnny Goyena. She grew up in Carteret, NJ in a home that was designed and built by her father. Dot held this as a proud and cherished memory her whole life, long after she started on her own adventure.

Dot attended Holy Family Elementary and Carteret High School, where she developed a love for education and a passion for sports. She was the captain of varsity cheerleading team and eventually went back to coach that very same team. Dot graduated from Missouri Valley College with a degree in education and her life-long, most adored friendship with Dolores, “Horse”.

In 1975, Dot met her devoted husband, Harlan Thompson, in Fords, NJ and they married in 1979. She spent many years as a dedicated schoolteacher, cheerleading coach, and mentor to student athletes. When Dot and Harlan’s daughters were born, they became the center of Dot’s universe. She enjoyed becoming a stay-at-home mom and remained active in the school system as an advocate, parent volunteer, and eventually when time allowed, she made her way back to teaching, as a substitute.

After seeing her daughters off to college, Dot continued her adventure. She loved to spend time with her sister, Evelyn, in Sarasota, FL, traveled annually with her “Super Eight” childhood friends, and lived in Sanibel Island, FL, next door to her best friend. Dot never missed a chance to visit her daughters while they were on their own adventures around the country. Eight years ago, she moved to Spokane, WA to be nearer her children and grandchildren. Her heart always remained at the Jersey Shore.

Dot had a passion for the arts, fantasy, history, and classic literature. She instilled this same passion in her children and grandchildren. From the time her daughters were young she took them to Broadway, (re)read and discussed with them classic novels, and traveled to historical sites up and down the eastern seaboard, including the mansions in Newport, RI and the immersive experience in Colonial Williamsburg. Dot shared the magic of Disney World with her parents, nieces, children, and grandchildren on many occasions throughout her life. 

Dot was generous in every way. She gave thoughtful gifts. She was organized and had her Christmas shopping done by the first of October. And speaking of Christmas, Dot loved Christmas, the whole Christmas season and if you should ask why, we will tell you the reason: magic! Dot brought the magic, joy, merriment, (and the tinsel) every year!

Dot was creative, too—she delighted in creating warm, beautiful spaces for her family to gather. She enjoyed so many hobbies, including sewing, porcelain doll making, color-by-number, stained glass art. An incredible cook, she was known for her pierogies, baked ziti, chicken paprikash, corned beef and cabbage, mashed potatoes, and “sqetti and eatballs”.

Compassionate and consistently putting the needs of others before her own, Dot not only accepted, but embraced the taxing role of caregiver for several family members in their last years. And there was still more room in her heart, over the years she fostered and adopted countless cats and kittens. Dot’s selflessness—seen so easily by all those around her— was one of her most inspirational and admirable traits.

Above all, Dot’s greatest joy was her family. She carried a rare and extraordinary love: strong, intense, and deeply felt by all who knew her. We were the lucky ones and to us she was best known as Mom, Babja, Dottie, Tuddy, Hauntie, Gomer, Sister, and Friend. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Harlan Thompson; her daughters, Jill Thompson (Max) and Holly Thompson Duffy (Shaun); grandchildren Willa, Otis, Clementine, Ozzy, and Meribel; her sister, Evelyn Syre; and her sister at heart, Pat Faber.

A private memorial will soon be held in Spokane. A second celebration of life will take place on the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2026, details will be shared later.