Obituary of Johanna Thompson

Johanna Thompson, a dedicated family woman and owner & operator of a multicultural food blog with thousands of followers, both foodies and non-foodies, called simplyriceandbeans.com, has passed into eternal rest peacefully after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer surrounded my her family and friends. She was 44. She is the beloved wife of Calvin A. Thompson who cared for her at every step of the way as did her supportive, loving family and closest of friends that help to stand her up during her fight. Johanna was born in Stamford, CT daughter of the later Carlos Figueroa and Ana DeJesus-Figueroa. She was raised in Bridgeport and attending Warren G. Harding High School and graduated in 1989. After which, Johanna sought to find her voice through various employ until finding her soulmate, Calvin, and were married on June 19, 1993. Johanna was always up for challenges and nothing larger than being asked to relocate to Dallas, Texas for her husband’s employer which would separate her from a close family bond some 1500 miles. However, Johanna, as the dedicated supporter of her husband leaped at the opportunity. Over the following years, Johanna would relocate from Dallas to Atlanta then back to Bridgeport which was important as she was present to support her family as her Father, Carlos, passed into eternal life in 1995. Johanna’s voice began to take hold with employment with People’s Bank and Oxford Health Plans. Remaining in Connecticut to support her Mother, now a widow was an important part of her commitment to service which all of us are called to perform. As Johanna put it, all I can do with this life is “give it away” as that’s all we can all do is commit to giving it away in some level or form of service. In 2000, Johanna’s mother, Ana DeJesus-Figueroa, passed on into eternal rest. This event forever changed Johanna as they had a bond that was unbreakable and inseparable. Change of venue was necessary, so in 2002 Johanna and husband chose to relocate to Miami, Florida. With this move, Johanna furthered her career with employment with Emerald Benefits of Weston, Florida where her voice was further fine-tuned with the meeting of various lifelong friends and co-workers. In her commitment to allowing her spouse to pursue employment opportunities to further their household, Johanna once again, allowed for relocation to the Atlanta Metro Area in 2006. Again, an unflappable demeanor met the challenge by becoming an entrepreneur and launching Cayman’s Jewels which was a successful retail and online fashion jeweler store in 2007. Johanna always found ways to redeploy her service to others, either by starting a foundation called Cayman Cares or through her commitment to family & friends. This redeployment of services was never more evident after being diagnosed with cancer in 2011. Johanna committed to fighting this diagnosis with the same grit and determination that growing up in Bridgeport and the daughter of Carlos and Ana Figueroa had taught her – quitting is not an option only strength to fight. Johanna kept her early struggles with the disease very private until a relapse after a long remission occurred where her voice screamed out that this disease cannot shatter hope, corrode faith, destroy peace, suppress memories, silence courage, invade the soul, conquer the spirit or conquer Johanna’s fight. It may have started the fight but Johanna was determined to finish it. This fight surfaced with the starting of an immensely successful blog with followers throughout the world, called simplyriceandbeans.com. The blog allowed Johanna to hone her culinary skills that spanned many cultures from one kitchen as the slogan communicated. Who engages in baking and cooking at an elite level in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Johanna. Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to her work of blogging? Johanna. Her energetic and unwavering devotion to her family and to her work while fighting the battle of her life should leave us in awe, and she leaves a void that can never be replaced. Toward the last portion of the recent battle, her Oncologist communicated something powerful that is not too dissimilar to what we all have heard in various forms about this battle. "When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live. Johanna lived and fought like hell at every step of this battle. In her words “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” She is the loving godmother of Travis, Trevor, and Taylor Gerald; the adoring "dog mother" of Cayman and Caico; the caring sister of Carlos Figueroa (Marie), Luis Figueroa (Elba), Felix Figueroa, Micdonio Figueroa (Gloria), and Martin Figueroa (Maribel); and the aunt of Carlos, Carlos Juan, Christian, Natalie, Anthony, Elba, Enet, Carlos Luis, Felix Jr., Joel, Jordan, Marianna Beard, Martin Jr., Jonathan, Katiria, Andrea, Genesis, Omayra and Giovanni Figueroa. She was predeceased by her brother Herbert Figueroa. Family and Friends will gather to honor and remember her life at calling hours on Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 6-8 P.M. at the Funeraria Luz de Paz, (Peaceful Light Funeral Home), 426 E. Washington Ave., Bridgeport; Funeral services have been scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2015 beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Service at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 160 Hill Farm Rd, Fairfield, CT. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery, Bridgeport, CT; an online register book and memorial page has been established where you may share your thoughts, memories, prayers, pictures and so much more and is found EXCLUSIVELY at www.luzdepaz.com. In lieu of flowers, please honor her legacy and love for life with a donation to any of the suggested Charities: Livestrong.org; Standup2cancer.org or Cancer.org or become involved and help fight cancer in any way you can. Forgive someone today and fill that spot with love.