Joann Augusta Thompson

A sweet and gentle spirit has left this world much too soon. Joann Chapdelaine Thompson faced life’s may challenges with quiet strength, courage, and a dignity that belied her tiny five-foot stature. She found joy in the little things, loved devotedly, laughed loudly, cared deeply, made friends easily, and prevailed in the face of hardships. Yes, she was a talker and never without a word to say. But, she lived a rich and full life and, well, had a lot to talk about. Especially when it came to her two children John Chapdelaine and Cathy McDavid Mazur (she always claimed they got their talent and smarts from her). Her many accomplishments included dancing, painting, crafting, writing poetry, decorating, and making the best apricot cream pie you’ve ever tasted.

After raising her family, she went into real estate and then later owned and operated a successful furniture store. For twenty-five years, she hosted an hour-long weekly radio show on Sun Sounds of Arizona. For almost that long, she belonged to the Red Hat Society, her collection of purple dresses and red hats filling an entire closet. She also enjoyed genealogy and researched her family’s history back to the Civil War and beyond, clear to the Mayflower. The extensive photo and written records collection she assembled should probably reside in a museum somewhere rather than her daughter’s spare bedroom. Her greatest source of happiness and pride, however, was her children and four grandchildren (Clay, Caitlin, Sarah, and Stephanie). While she will be greatly missed by those she’s left behind, she is at long last reunited in heaven with her late husband Eugene “Chap” Chapdelaine, who forever remained the love of her life.

A viewing will be held on July 9th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery, 401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257 for Joann's Arizona family and friends. She will be laid to rest in Scantic, Connecticut next to her late husband. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joann’s name to Hospice of the Valley.