Madeleine Laura Dempsey Obituary (1928 - 2015)

Madeleine Laura Thomas "Tomi" Dempsey passed away on Tuesday March 31, 2015 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital after battling COPD. Tomi was born in Bridgeport, CT August 9, 1928. She was the daughter of John Harold Thomas and Madeline Frances Campbell Thomas of Norwalk CT. She was predeceased by twin sister Marion and sister Ruth. She is survived by her children William Dempsey Jr, CDR, USN Ret. and his wife Leslie of Southern Pines, NC, Edward Dempsey, CDR, USN Ret. and his wife Kathy of Leesburg, VA, Thomas Dempsey of Seminole, FL, Suzanne Dempsey Carroll of Manassas, VA, Barbara Dempsey of Lewisville, TX and her brother Edward Thomas of Queens, NY. She leaves 11 grandchildren, one great granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews. Ms. Dempsey attended the University of Alabama and joined the Air Force in 1950 and was stationed in Japan and Korea during the Korean Conflict with the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron (801st MAES). As a Navy wife she moved several times back and forth between the east and west coasts. She settled in Beaufort after her divorce and became very active in the community. She worked as the Plant Medical Representative at the National Water Lift Company Plant and as a Home Health Nurse with the South Carolina Public Health Department. She was the past President of the Lady's Golf Association of Lady's Island Country Club and the Royal Pines Home Owner's Association. she was also a member of the Stephen's Ministry and a Eucharistic Minister in St. Helena's Parish and was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Visitation will be on Monday, April 6, 2015 at Anderson Funeral Home from 5 until 7 PM. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Parish Church of St. Helena at 10:30 AM. The interment will be at noon at the Beaufort National Cemetery. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Beaufort Memorial Hospital for their kindness, care and professionalism while taking care of their mother. Her final days were also enriched by her dear friends and Pastor who visited or sent their wonderful messages of caring to her. She appreciated them very much. She loved, she laughed, she lived and she will be missed. The family would also like to give special thanks to the staff at Morningside of Beaufort, for the wonderful care they gave their mother.