Maureen Helene Thompson

Maureen Helene Thompson, age 62, a 40 year Fallbrook resident, prematurely left us the evening of Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Kindred Hospital in San Diego, suffering cardiac arrest while in intensive care battling a brief respiratory illness.

Maureen was born Oct. 22, 1948 in North Hollywood, Calif. to Maurice Shapiro and Beatrice (Lovelace) Shapiro. A 1966 graduate of Burbank High School, Maureen attended Stanislaus State University in Turlock, Calif.

In 1970, while travelling in Europe, Maureen met the love of her life, Peter Richard Thompson. They were married Nov. 3, 1970 in the parish church of Wickham Bishops, England. The young couple moved to Fallbrook in 1971 and began raising a family, living in England during the mid 1980s only to return to their home in Fallbrook. A loving, devoted and dynamic mother and wife, Maureen graduated from San Marcos State University in 1990 and began a teaching career at Live Oak Elementary School, retiring in 2005.

Fondly cherished and remembered as a nurturing wife, mother, sister and friend, Maureen was an avid gardener and accomplished sailor, passionate reader and Scrabble opponent, an inspiring teacher and joyful musician. We are diminished by the sudden, untimely loss of her effervescent spark, sharp wit and infectious laughter, insatiable curiosity and compassion, her steadfast love and appreciation for all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small and her belief in the essential equality of all people.

Maureen is survived by her husband Peter, son Kevin, daughter Adrienne, sisters Eileen and Francine, nephews Cory, Brady and Andy, and nieces Abigail and Alyssa. A celebration of life event for friends and family will be held at a later date. In honor of Maureen’s life membership in the Fallbrook Arts Center, and support of the Village Association, Fallbrook Land Conservancy and Cesar Chavez book fair, the family encourages any person interested to support these causes and local arts and agriculture in general.