Anna B. "Nancy" Thompson

Anna B. “Nancy” Thompson, 85, of West Chester, PA passed away peacefully Monday October 14, 2024, at her daughter’s home in West Chester. She was the wife of the late Senator Robert J. “Bob” Thompson.

Born February 5, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Andrew M. Blackman and the late Katherine E. Bird Blackman. Nancy grew up in Huntingdon Valley, graduated from Lower Merion High School, attended Beaver College (now Arcadia University), and graduated from Penn State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in art education. She taught art in Chester County schools and continued to substitute for decades. 

Nancy met Bob on the beach in Avalon, NJ. They were married in 1960, welcomed daughter Melissa in 1962 and twins, Amy and Andy, in 1965.

After the tragic death of their son Andy in 1985, Nancy and Bob joined forces with friends to author a book, Choose Life, which was distributed through Chester County crisis centers. As part of their dedication to bringing awareness to suicide prevention and ending the stigma attached, the book aimed to offer help and identify emergency resources for those in crisis as well as their families and friends. The Thompsons utilized Andy's life insurance policy to establish a fund for suicide prevention and education in Chester County believing that, if they were able to save even one life, it would be worth it. Nancy and her daughter then started a "Survivors of Suicide" support group that met monthly for more than 10 years with people who had lost someone to suicide. 

Nancy's love of art spanned her entire lifetime. She enjoyed painting in mixed media and was continually experimenting with different styles. She illustrated three books including Ironmaster’s Houses of Chester County. During the Desert Storm conflict, she designed the yellow ribbon sweatshirt sold on QVC to support the Red Cross. She was always happy to donate her work to organizations and events, including the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester Charity Ball and the Hickman Home, where she painted furniture for over 10 years for their charity event “The Art of Caring”. In addition, Nancy guided 15 Chester County Barclay Friends seniors as they illustrated the vitality of their near-century-long lives in creating a 24-panel mural, titled after Thomas Chisholm’s hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”.

Her paintings of numerous well-known buildings in West Chester, including First Presbyterian Church, St. Agnes, and Friends Meeting House, are cherished and hang today in countless homes. She was part of the Harrisburg Cow Parade, and her fiberglass cow is prominently displayed outside of the Chester County Art Association. One of her favorite projects was designing and supervising three murals done with children at the Juvenile Detention Center in Chester County.

Nancy’s love of the arts was only surpassed by her love and dedication to the church. She utilized her talents by helping coordinate and participate in Column Classics at First Presbyterian Church, where she was a faithful member for 50 years. The Column Classics program gives a showcase for church members and local artists to display their musical and artistic talents. Nancy helped coordinate artists for the series to exhibit their artwork in the gallery and was also an active participant displaying and selling her work for 18 years.

She somehow managed to do all of this while also attending countless hours at political functions, faithfully supporting her husband Senator Robert Thompson, until his death in 2006. She embodied the idea of "standing side-by-side with every successful man" rather than standing behind him.

Nan had the strongest faith and never feared death. She made it her mission to pass along the message in which she genuinely believed. Drafted years ago, she left the following letter to all she loved:

Dear Loved Ones,
There are so many things I’ve wanted to say … and yet … have not said them; I hope in some way I’ve at least shown you. You are all so loved … by me and, more importantly, by God. If there is nothing more you learn in life, please accept, and understand the depth, width, length, and height of His love. John the Apostle spoke of this love in his letter: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I have been given such a good life.

Nancy is survived by her daughters Melissa D. Fry (Michael), Amy L. Cacchio and her
grandchildren, Curtis A. Fry and Andrew P., Brendon G., and Sophia J. Cacchio. Of all her accomplishments, nothing made her prouder than when she became a grandmother and given the title of "Nan". She is also survived by her brother in-law Richard L. Thompson (Donna), sister-in-law Susan Thompson Hillenbrand (Robert) and nephew David L. Thompson (Amanda). In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Andrew J. Thompson, and son-in-law, Joseph J. Cacchio.

Nancy also leaves behind Dr. Mary Lisa Gunning, who was far more than her physician. Dr. Gunning showed unwavering dedication to Nancy's care for decades and was responsible for intervening and saving her life numerous times. "ML” is an angel here on earth and someone Nan’s family feels blessed to consider a friend and family member. They will be forever grateful.

The family invites relatives and friends to her Visitation on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm at First Presbyterian Church of West Chester 130 W. Miner St. West Chester, PA 19382, followed by her Funeral Service at 3:00 pm. Please feel free to wear purple for Nancy’s favorite color or any other color you may like, in her honor. 

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made payable to First Presbyterian Church - Column Classics Program,130 W. Miner St. West Chester, PA 19382 or Penn Medicine Hospice of Chester County, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. If donating by check please reference “In memory of Anna B. Thompson” in the memo line.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com