Martha Thompson

1942 - 2023

Martha Thompson of Dalton passed away peacefully at home on March 31, 2023 surrounded by her adoring husband of 55 years, William ("Bill") Edward Thompson, and her loving children.

Martha Shacar Thompson was born October 9, 1942 in Vinales Pinar del Rio, Cuba, the daughter of Michael and Herminia Hernandez Shacar, and came to Berkshire County with her family in 1956 at the age of thirteen. The Matriarch of a large, loving family, Martha was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Daughter and Sister whose world revolved around her six children, 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

With little education, Martha quickly mastered the English language and became the best of the best with any pursuit, from selling Avon, to becoming a head restaurant chef while working two other jobs, and then opening NorMar's clothing boutique with her sister Nora.

Her sharp entrepreneurial spirit later led her to get her real estate license where she quickly became the top seller at Coldwell Banker-Isgood Realty and one of the most successful realtors in western Massachusetts. Martha went on to become a real estate broker, and she and Bill purchased the Union Block in Dalton where she opened Martha Thompson Realtors, continuing to help Berkshires residents find their dream homes.

Martha's astute business sense led her and Bill to purchase many key properties throughout Berkshire County including the Union Block, the Dalton Post Office and their historic home, "El Nido" or "The Nest," in Dalton. Even in her final days, she had the keenest of dealmaking abilities and a knack for identifying properties that would be profitable.

Above all else, Martha was compassionate for those who had less and a fierce seeker of justice for the underserved. For years, she spent hours each week bringing joy to seniors at Ashmere Nursing Home. She was also an incredible cook who loved to share her Cuban and Lebanese meals with family and friends, always making extra plates for neighbors who lived alone and eagerly awaited her visits.

Martha was also known for her green thumb, and her gardens and plants were a great source of joy. With her special touch, there was never a plant that didn't flourish under her care. Her gardens were a place of beauty and magic, and the generations that grew up playing there over the years will always remember the happiness and tranquility they found there.

Martha was a woman of many talents, but above all, she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who was the heart and soul of a large and loving family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the passions she instilled in her family.

In addition to her beloved husband Bill, Martha is survived by her six children, Denise Staubach, Lisa (Billy) Dinicola, and Billie-Jo (Matthew) George of Dalton, Kim (Scott) Raymaakers of Pittsfield, The Honorable Richard (Michelle) Bartolomei of El Cajon, CA, and Patricia (Geoffrey) Freeman of Arlington, VA; her brother Carlos (Sandy) Shacar of Lanesborough, MA; her grandchildren Kira (Connor), Taylor (Dan), Rebekah, Dylan, Cassidy, Barrett, Alannah, Catalina, Tara (Dave), Heidi, Eric, LeiAnna, Casey, Sophia, Gracie, Wyatt, Jack, Abigail, and Harper; and her great-grandchildren Scarlette, Ruby, Mason, Veda, Bryceon, Lainey, Parker and Wes. She is predeceased by her sister Nora (George) O'Brien who passed away on March 13.

At Martha's request, the family will have a private service with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Foundation for Autism Research (www.nfar.org) in honor of Martha's granddaughter, Catalina.