Patricia (Thompson) Cooley

Patricia (“Pat”) Thompson Cooley, age 94, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2024.  Pat was born in Milton, Massachusetts on August 14, 1930 to Charles Milton Thompson and Winnefred Allegra (Costello) Thompson.  She was the sixth of their seven children.

At age 16, Pat graduated from the Thayer Academy in the class of 1947. She was a cheerleader and actively involved in academics, athletics and the arts.  She graduated from Lesley College at age 20 with a bachelor’s degree in Education.  While at Lesley she founded the community service oriented Compass Club and was an active leader in student government and many clubs. She later obtained her Master’s degree. 

Pat and her family summered and sailed at Crow Point in Hingham. As a child she met her future husband, John Blake Cooley, at the Hingham Yacht Club. It was love at first sight for them both. John told his parents he was going to marry Pat Thompson someday, and despite having many suitors, Pat knew John was the one for her. They married at The Old Ship Church in Hingham on July 19, 1952.  They were married 69 years before John passed away in 2021.

Pat loved teaching elementary school and it truly was her calling.  She began her career in Cohasset and after nearly four decades of teaching, she retired from Eames Way School in Marshfield.

Being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother was her greatest joy. She was always active, supportive, encouraging and upbeat. Pat enjoyed tennis, gardening, horseback riding, traveling with her husband and taking respite at their secluded home Overlook Farm in Marshfield.

Pat is survived by her daughters Debra Ann Cooley Haislip (Pliny) and Lisa Joan Cooley Carpenter (Richard), her sister Barbara (Thompson) Trainor, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  She is predeceased by her husband John Blake Cooley, her parents and brothers Charles, John, Robert, Paul and Donald Thompson.  Private burial will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley, MA.

Pat used to say that when she gets to heaven she was going to slide up to the pearly gates and say “Whoo-hoo!  That was one heck of a ride!” We take comfort in knowing she is reunited forever with her beloved husband John and loved ones.

Visiting hours will be held Saturday October 19th, 2024, from 10-11am at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel 21 Pond Street Hingham MA 02043.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at lovetotherescue.org

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