Carolyn Thomson

In Memory - Carolyn Krebs Thomson-- July 11, 1933-May 17, 2021Carolyn Krebs Thomson was born in the Dutchtown section of Rochester, NY to William Krebs and A. Dolores Krebs on July, 11, 1933. She attended Holy Family School and Church with her younger brother John, (Jack). They were both close to their grandmother, Adelaide Saffran who always had lunch waiting for them at her house during the mid-day recess at school. Carolyn was valedictorian of her Mercy High School class, and went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biology at Nazareth College.After graduating from Nazareth, Carolyn spent a year in New Mexico documenting the effects of radiation exposure on persons working on atomic research projects. Upon returning to Rochester, she married Robert Thomson, and they purchased a newly constructed house in Chili, on the west side of Rochester and raised a family of 4 children, Joseph, Jonathan, Robert and Laura.In the early years, she taught biology labs at her alma mater Nazareth, two afternoons/evenings a week. Eventually, she obtained her teaching certificate and taught at the high school level. As her children became involved in competitive swimming, she became a swim official, and along with her friend Donna was one of the first female "starters" complete with using and maintaining her own starting pistol.As her children left for college Carolyn began selling educational materials for Fearon Education in a territory that extended throughout Upstate New York. A skilled and expert salesperson, she grew this into a successful business, carrying several lines of material for many years until her retirement and move to Ocala, Florida.The growing family spent summers and weekends exploring and recreating at their A frame cottage on East Bay off of Lake Ontario. Life at the cottage was simple but there was always plenty of space for the dogs to run and the kids to waterski, sail and hike at Chimney Bluffs on the shore of Lake Ontario. At night, Carolyn was always up for a few hands of Gin Rummy and a cold beer with her dad (Bill).Carolyn was an avid gardener and could be found buying fruits and vegetables in bulk for canning at the Rochester Public Market on Saturdays and enjoyed growing plants and visiting botanical gardens. She was an expert scratch baker and cook and made the best fruitcake and cookies at Christmas.Carolyn loved to socialize and travel. She was an expert bridge player and traveled throughout Europe with her close friend Madeline, and with her family.More recently, she enjoyed living at the Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala with her husband Bob of 63 years, volunteering and spending time with her friends and family, particularly her son Rob and daughter-in-law Beth who were so devoted to her care in this last year. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents William and A. Dolores Krebs, her brother John Krebs and her infant sons Christopher and Shawn Thomson. She is survived by her husband Robert, her sons Joseph, Jonathan and his wife Lisa, and Robert and his wife Beth, and her daughter Laura and her husband John Roesser, her grandchildren Lisa Sowell, Lacey Thomson, Jamie Thomson, Paige Thomson, Grace Thomson, Riley Thomson and Lauren Standley, her great grandchildren Rebecca Sansone, Bentley Stokes, Lannie Mae Standley, her sister-in-law Carol Krebs and her neice Caroline and nephew John Daniel.

Carolyn Thomson

July 11, 1933 - May 17, 2021