Hudson – Karla W. Thompson, 72, of Hudson, passed away peacefully at UMass Memorial Hospital-Marlborough on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Born in Brookline, MA, Karla was the daughter of the late Edward T. and Katherine (Waage) Englund.
Upon graduating from Newton North High School in 1967, Karla went on to earn an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lasell Jr. College in 1969. The following year, she married her former husband, the late John H. Thompson. They eventually settled down in Marlboro where she would dedicate several years as a stay-at-home mother to their daughters, Jennifer and Rebecca.
When her children started school, Karla began working in the food service department at Bigelow and Richer Elementary Schools. Later in 1988, she started her career at Marlborough Hospital. For close to 30 years she was a devoted hospital employee, who started in the Union St. Café and retired from the Medical Records department in 2015. Her loving colleagues fondly remember her wit, her positivity, and her caring personality. Karla was always personable; she formed and sustained many life-long friendships, her smile and laugh will be missed by many.
Karla adored her cat, Jake, a loyal companion, who remained by her side for over 16 years. Her pastimes included bowling, calligraphy, and gardening. She loved traveling and enjoyed studying the culture and history behind her new adventures. She was intrigued by lighthouses, hot air balloons, meteorology, and enthusiastically tracked hurricanes. Karla had a natural eye for photography, and she captured many awards for her stunning pictures. She appreciated wildlife and could often be found exploring mother nature, camera in hand, reveling in the tranquility of flora and fauna.
She is survived by her two loving daughters, Jennifer Thompson and her partner Mike Nogueira of Worcester, MA, and Rebecca Rios and her husband Moises of Granite Shoals, TX, as well as her cherished grandchildren, Moises, Noah, and Timothy.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM at the Slattery Funeral Home, Inc., 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA 01752. Following visitation hours, a service celebrating her life will be held in the funeral home at 4:30 PM.
