In Memory of Era Thompson(1946 - 2016)
- Name
- Era Thompson
- Spouse
- Clark Thompson
- Children
- Joshua, Claire, Holly
- Birth Date
- May 1, 1946
- Ascension Date
- August 24, 2016
Our beloved sister, Era Thompson, of the Los Angeles Family Church, ascended to the spirit world on the early morning of Wednesday, August 24, after battling with cancer. She is a dear sister, devoted mother and activist in the LA community, and was very involved in interfaith work for the sake of peace. She truly showed the spirit of Heavenly Parent's and True Parents' daughter. She is survived by her three children, Joshua, Claire and Holly.
Let us join together and support Era's family during this special and important time, and offer our prayers for her victorious transition to a glorious new life in the spiritual world.
Following is a short biography from her family, and Seonghwa information from Pastor George Kazakos.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim
Continental Director
Dr. Michael Balcomb
President
Era was born on May 1, 1946 to Moshe and Hilda Matalon. A year after her birth her brother Yossi was born. She grew up in Haifa, Israel, on Mount Carmel, overlooking the lovely bay area and main seaport. As a child, Era was steeped in a rich and deep tradition of Judaism passed down by her Grandmother, who would celebrate the holidays with large family gatherings and sincere observance of faith. Era was interested in literature, art and education. She did well in school and eventually, after earning a degree in teaching at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, traveled to Europe and the United States.
She spent her life searching for God and spiritual truth, eventually finding her way to New York, where she felt called to join the Unification Church. Era lived a life of sincere faith and spiritual conviction. She spent her time fundraising and witnessing with the Unification Church as well as engaging in political rallies to fight communism and social problems.
During this time she married Clark Thompson and had three children: Joshua, Claire and Holly in Gloucester, Massachusetts, an old fishing town, where Clark worked for the church’s seafood company and Era did missionary work.
After moving to California, Era taught Hebrew at a Synagogue and eventually became a teacher for kids with special needs. During this time she devoted herself to helping the church as well as joining interface groups to better understand God’s heart. Era was a devoted mother, who worked two jobs to ensure her children lived in a safe city with a good school. She cared for her children and for her community deeply.
Era was also a poet and published several short works including poetry derived from the interactions she had with her special needs students.
Era was fearless and warm, often making new friends even as she went shopping or while taking her car to the mechanic.
Era spent her life serving others, helping to grow and develop the Unification Church and being a loving, wonderful mother. Era ascended on August 24, 2016 at 5:40 AM during the sunrise, her favorite time of day. She will be deeply missed.
Seonghwa Ceremony
The Seonghwa Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 30 at 2:00 PM at:
Forest Lawn Covina Hills
At the Church of Our Heritage Chapel
21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina, CA 91724
Phone: (323) 254-3131
To send gifts for the family:
Joshua Thompson
260 Mockingbird Lane, #2
South Pasadena, CA 91030
- Time
- 2:00 PM
- Date
- Tuesday, August 30, 2016
- Location
- Forest Lawn Covina Hills: 21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina, CA 91724
Randy & Kumiko Francis
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May our sister Era find her pathway smooth in establishing her new eternal life.
Love and prayers of peace to Clark and family.
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Marius Jean Henry
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A New Era is now open for her
to be send in a New Heaven as “Prodigal Parent in the 4arms of a Glorious God
My God is a win win situation and a IV Israel for her family is New earth with the Coming of God D Day 2016
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Yasuhiro & Laura Taylor Hayashi
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Much love always; prayers for all of you during this transition.
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Edwin Pierson
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Ah, Dear Era,
May The Heavenly Parent embrace you as warmly as you embraced so many.
Blessings to your family and many friends.
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Tyler Hendricks
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I have wonderful feelings for Era from back in the New York days at 71st Street. She was an inspiration to everyone when she joined. A God-infused woman of incredible strength and calm; a bridge between cultures and ages.
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Kathryn Davis
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Era will be missed here and eagerly welcomed in Heaven! What a soft, yet determined heavenly warrior she is. We always had a full page pharmacy ad, week after week, in the now defunct The News World Communications, Inc. begun by True Father in late 1976. The Jewish owner of the pharmacy was persecuted for having the ad in our paper but Era strongly encouraged him that he would be blessed if he kept the ad going. Era won. She was our advertising hero. She is also a saint among people of her original faith, to have recognized the Lord of the Second Advent and followed Him until the end of her days here. What a beautiful life and wonderful story!
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Hilda monica Ishioka
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My dearest sister Era, thank you so much for our long conversation by phone, you open my thoughts to a new real of heart without judgment and so much wisdom. I REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.
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Jo Ann Crooks
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May God comfort Era’s family. She is a precious sister who left a shining example for us all. May she continue to shin in Heaven!
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Vicki Phelps
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Oh, Era! How your bright smile and warm, embracing heart will be missed here as you move on to a new life. I first met her at News World, and we made a strong connection due partly to our common Jewish heritage. Though I hadn’t seen her for a long time, I thought of her often. Now she will bring that same degree of determination she had here to her new mission, probably helping to break down all the walls between religions.
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David
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Dear Clark
Sorry to her of your wife’s passing. I always remember you cooking in Gloucester for ocean church. also thank you for coming to India in 1993 My wife & I were missionary’s there for 15 years. We are now in Indonesia. take care. Love David & Ursula McLacklnd.
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Arthur Herstein
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Era is a beautiful and loving person. I haven’t seen her in some years, but I miss her already. On a MEPI trip to Israel we got to know each other better; it was wonderful to have her accompany me when I went to visit my Israeli relatives in Jerusalem; she could explain things to them and win their hearts. God bless Era and her family.
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Klaus Schick
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Era is a wonderful sister to all who know her – now of course we will miss her in this world but we will meet her again in the final eternal world over there. It was so good to know here as that sister from Israel… Shalom & Aju
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Luz Maria
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I see such a deep and gentile face. Rest in Peace, and keep the good work going.
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Brian Goldstein
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Dearest Era, we went way back to NY & Gloucester but hadnt known she was so close to me in CA…blessings on her in Heaven and the family here, I can never forget her warm and faithful nature.
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