Ruth Pesarik Thompson

Ruth Pesarik Thompson CLAREMONT — Ruth Pesarik Thompson, 91, died Monday, May 10, 2021, after a brief stay at Summercrest in Newport, New Hampshire. She fought a brave and courageous battle with heart failure. She was able to live at her home up until the last month of her life. She was born in North Charlestown, New Hampshire, on Feb. 14, 1930, to Gregory and Anna Pesarik. She was the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Stevens High School in 1948. Following that, she enjoyed working at the Goodwin Community Center in Claremont, New Hampshire. On July 11, 1953, she married Donald T. Thompson Jr. Together, they enjoyed 45 years of marriage until he died in 1998. She lived in Syracuse, New York, Canaan, New Hampshire (where she was a ski instructor at Cardigan Mountain School), and eventually moved to Claremont, where she had resided since 1963. She stayed home to raise her children, and then worked part time for the Claremont school system before working for the family-owned insurance business, Thompson Insurance Agency. Ruth dedicated herself to family and friends. She was an avid cook and baker with a passion for food. She canned many garden vegetables, jams and jellies, in addition to preparing many special family recipes shared at special occasions. Ruth had an eye for fashion and always looked forward to watching the Miss America pageant each year. Other interests were her enjoyment for playing bingo, scratching lottery tickets and traveling to Atlantic City casinos with her husband. She also enjoyed going to Paris, France, for her 25th wedding anniversary, as well as traveling to Australia and New Zealand in her retirement. She is survived by her four children: Donald T. Thompson III of Claremont; Karen T. Littlefield and her husband, Stan, of Ogunquit, Maine; Cynthia T. Hunt of Rocky Hill, Connecticut; and Susan T. Tulloch and her husband, Michael, of Lithia, Florida. She was a loving grandmother to 10 grandchildren and a great-grandmother to two great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the many staff at Lake Sunapee VNA, her home care nurses, as well as the many doctors and nurses who treated her. A calling hour from 1-2 p.m. will take place on Monday, May 17, 2021, at the Stringer Funeral Home on Broad Street in Claremont, followed by a service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the funeral home and Thompson family ask all attending the visitation and service to abide with all regulations and please wear a mask and use social distancing. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.