Paula Jane Thompson

Paula Jane Thompson, 76, passed away October 4, 2026, at Crouse Hospital, comfortable and surrounded by loved ones, and in typical Paula fashion she kept her spice right up to the end.

Born February 1, 1950, to Paul and Evelyn Bresnahan, Paula made her life's work maintaining a home as wife, mother, and homemaker, providing a home for her children, cousins, and anyone who needed a roof over their head.

Her home in New Haven was where people gathered for holidays, football games, and quite often gathered for no reason at all. Her love language was giving. No BJ's run ended without every inch of her car packed with everyone's favorite treats, usually delivered unannounced, and if she stopped at Brooklyn Pickle you were probably getting your favorite sandwich as well. Paula spent her life giving far more to others than she kept for herself.

Paula loved her coffee, her dogs, spaghetti and meatballs, bingo as well as casino and summer camping trips with her husband, Slim. In her spare time she played backgammon so avidly that she built a second family online.

She is survived by her sisters, Peggy (Jim) Chin and Patricia Orozco-Belmann. She is also survived by her children: Joseph Thompson, Kevin (Darcia) Thompson, Kristi (Steven) Ross, Catherine (Bert) Loomis, Joshua Thompson, Crystal (Jonathon) Wood, Bianca Slivinski, and Jayvian Thompson, Lisa Adams, William Bresnahan, numerous foster children; 15 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents; her grandson, Julian Ross; and Donald J. "Slim" Thompson, her husband of 55 years.

A celebration of life will be held at the Oswego VFW on Saturday, October 17th, starting at 12 PM.

To share a memory of Paula or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.