Obituary

A Catholic mass and burial will be held for Matthew Eugene Thompson, 91, of Mission Viejo, CA on Friday December 19th at 9:00 am preceded by a rosary at 8:30 am at St. Kilian Catholic Church, located at Estanciero and Marguerite in Mission Viejo. He passed peacefully in his sleep on the afternoon of December 11th, 2008.

Matthew was born October 3rd, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Marie Thompson. He was raised there during the Depression and served in WWII. He returned to NY and went to work for TWA where he found the apple of his eye – Marguerite. They were wed and moved to Long Island, NY for several years. They moved to California before their two youngest children were born and settled in Gardena in 1957. They were active members of St. Anthony of Padua Parish from 1957 until they moved to Mission Viejo in 1988 where they joined St. Kilian Parish. He was also a 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus in addition to active membership in the Holy Name Society and VFW. He retired from his transportation career in 1982 much to the chagrin of the Rapid Transit District. He had many hobbies that kept him happy and busy from brewing beer at home to wood carving. He tinkered in his shop and loved to fix just about anything that needed to be fixed and a few that didn’t. Matt and Marge also volunteered at Mission Hospital for 10 years.

He is preceded in death by sisters Marie and Bernadette and brothers Linus, Vincent and Joseph. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marguerite and children Richard and Patricia Catalano of Lake Elsinore, CA, Theresa Coffey of Tonasket, WA, Nancy and John Ervin of Mission Viejo, CA and Barbara Richardson of El Segundo, CA; grandchildren Karen Tobin, Andrea Coffey, Matthew Martinez, Kaylyn Culver, Mary Richardson and Alexander Richardson, great-grandchildren Xander Culver and Sean Martinez.

Matt was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and was loved by all.

O’Connor Mortuary, 949 581-4300
www.oconnormortuary.com