EAST BERNE — Katherine H. Thompson, a mother who enjoyed helping both the young and old, died on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at home. She was 84.

She was born on Feb. 10, 1935 in Staten Island to the late Joseph and Elsie Restigini Arena. She was raised on Cole Hill Road in East Berne and graduated from the Berne-Knox School in 1952.

She worked at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School as a teacher’s assistant for 29 years and then was a substitute teacher’s assistant for 11 years.

“Kay enjoyed helping the elderly, helping with the Westerlo Summer Program, and loved to socialize,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She also enjoyed word-search puzzles, playing solitaire card games, doing arts and crafts, cooking, and baking. She was known for her Christmas Sherry Wine Cakes.”

In addition to her parents, her husband, Merle Thompson, died before her as did her sons, Stephen and Randolph Thompson, and her siblings, Anna Michaels and Joseph Arena Jr.

She is survived by her children, Kimberly Slingerland and her husband, Kevin, and Jeffrey Thompson and his wife, Fran; her grandchildren, Shane Slingerland and his wife, Billie-Jo, Shelby Shaver and her husband, Doyle, Natoshia VanValkenburg and her husband, Kevin, and Shannon Shaver and her husband, Trent; her great-grandchildren, Blake, Brody, Bradynn, Laiken, Molly, and Chaselyn; her sisters, Angelina Vinciguerra and Rosalie Azzue; and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home at 4898 Route 81 in Greenville. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial in the South Berne Cemetery.

Memorial messages may be left at AltamontEnterprise.com/milestones.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Penny Ln., Latham, NY 12110; to the American Heart Association, Post Office Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005; or to the Suicide Prevention Center of New York, 150 Broadway #301, Menands, NY 12204.