Kars, Ontario – Vilma “Esther” (Tarvainen) (Saunders) Thompson 73, formerly a long time resident of Hanson, died Tuesday May 25 after a tragic car accident in Canada. She was the beloved wife of Graham Thompson of Ottawa, Canada and the late Kenneth R. Saunders.
Born and raised in Hanson she was the daughter of the late Arne and Martha Tarvainen and a graduate of Whitman High School Class of 1954.
Esther an RN and LICSW graduated Quincy City Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 and later Massasoit Community College in 2004.
Before her move to Canada she was a Special Projects coordinator for the Billy Graham Association and for the Brockton Assembly of God Church of Brockton. She was a current member of the Pentecostal Church of Ottawa, Ontario.
She was a loving and devoted wife and mother and her family was her life.
In addition to her husband Graham she is survived by her loving children Deborah Wirzburger and her husband Jim of Whitman, Stephen Saunders and his wife Cheryl of Spring Hill, FL, and Lisa Richard of Brockton, her brother John Tarvainen of Colorado Springs, Co, her sister Aino Roemhildt of Cordova, AK, her 11 grandchildren and her great grandson, as well as her many friends who became family. She was the sister of the late Anna H. Parziale.
Her funeral service will be held Tuesday June 1 at 10 AM in the Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street (Rt. 58) Hanson. Burial will follow in the Fern Hill Cemetery, Hanson. Visiting hours will be held Monday May 31 from 4-8 PM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel Plymouth Street (Rt. 58 at the rotary) Whitman.