Myra Jean Thompson Policastro, 86, originally from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away March 14, 2021, in Richmond, Virginia. Born in Philadelphia, she was actually a true North Carolinian, although she spent most of her youth in Toronto, Canada.
She attended Penn State and worked for Eastern Airlines, then worked as an executive assistant in New York City for McCann Erickson. She ultimately, finally, agreed to marry Carmen Gregory Policastro and they resided in New York City before moving to Holmdel where she raised four children.
Myra Jean was an accomplished watercolor artist. She was Irish but cooked like Batali. She loved to travel, especially to Italy, and she loved the family’s annual two-week excursions to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, before it was famous, where she could spend time with her family and her very best longtime friends, the Gruenbergs, the Taylors and the Atkinsons.
She was a Thompson through and through, having been brought up by amazing parents, William C. Thompson and Mary Bertha Harris Thompson, and with the support of two strong, loving brothers. Myra Jean was stunning, athletic, regal and the ultimate storyteller, who literally lost all control when laughing, frequently at herself. She was sweet, tough and elegant, and always put herself last in line, especially for her children and grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Carmen Gregory Policastro; brother William C. Thompson Jr. of New Rochelle, New York; and daughters Monica C. Policastro Bird of Richmond, Virginia, and Emilie A. Policastro of Holmdel.
Surviving are her brother, Michael H. Thompson of Richmond, Virginia; sons, Andrew of Richmond, Virginia, and Marc of Rumson; and grandchildren, Marco, Luca, Amanda, Quinn and Phoebe. If you were fortunate enough to be in her life, invariably, she made your life better.
A funeral Mass was offered March 20 at Holy Cross Church, Rumson. A reception and Celebration of Life were held at Navesink Country Club following the funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to TeamLuke charity, which focuses on helping children with brain injuries, at teamlukehopeforminds.org/give-support/#donations.
The article originally appeared in the March 25 – 31, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
