Shirley Ann Thompson passed away in Redwood City on March 3rd at the age of 84. She was surrounded by loved ones.
She was born at San Francisco General Hospital to Tom and Eileen Joyce. They lived on Connecticut Street in San Francisco until she was 9 years old before moving down the peninsula to beautiful Shoreview in San Mateo where they purchased a brand-new home in 1949. Life was good. She attended St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School and then went to Mercy High School in Burlingame. After graduation, Shirley trained as a nurse for a year and also considered becoming a nun. But those plans fell by the wayside when she met the love of her life.
She met John "Jack" Wayne Thompson through close friends. Jack knew after their first date that she was the woman he was going to marry. They dated for a very short time before they were married on January 30, 1960.

They welcomed the first of their four children, Steve, in October of that year. Their second son, David, was born in 1961, followed by their daughter, Nancy, in 1963, and their youngest son, Kenneth, in 1966.

Shirley was a dedicated mother and wife. Although she did not become a nurse, she enjoyed working in the healthcare field as a medical assistant. She worked for a local oncologist for a number of years where she aided with giving chemotherapy to cancer patients. Her caring spirit and compassionate nature aided her in her work.

Jack and Shirley found an escape in Pollock Pines, CA in their early years and spent many weekends there with their kids and family friends enjoying the outdoors. In 1981, they bought property there and began to build the house they would retire in. After they both retired in 1998, they moved to Pollock Pines full time. They loved the space and tranquility of the mountains.

Shirley was a beloved friend and enjoyed many lifelong friendships that brought her joy. The Sew Whats were a group of mothers and ladies she enjoyed regular get togethers with in her younger years. There were many friends she met along the way that became extended family.


Shirley enjoyed sewing and crocheting, reading, and collecting antiques. She particularly liked collecting Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls. She and her husband especially loved their yearly trips to Kona Village in Hawaii where the highlight for Shirley was snorkeling in the ocean with her darling sea turtles. They also spent a lot of time with their seven grandchildren, attending sports games and performances and cheering on each one's accomplishments throughout the years.


Her Catholic faith was an unwaveringly important part of her life. She taught Catechism classes early on, and later, after retiring, she served at the nearby hospital by offering communion to patients who desired it.


Shirley was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Jack Thompson, her son, Steve, her daughter, Nancy, and brother, Tommy Joyce. Shirley is survived by her two sons and their spouses, David and Trish Thompson and Kenneth and Gail Thompson. She will be missed by her seven grandchildren, Joshua, Daniel, Cassidy, Nathaniel, Misha, Sawyer, and Joseph. Survivors also include her siblings Mickey Joyce, Linda Joyce, Diane Madden and extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.



A Memorial Mass Celebration will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Redwood City on March 27th, 2025, at 10:30am with a reception to follow. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a charitable donation be made to The Mother Teresa Maternity Home (www.motherteresamaternityhome.org)