Boden Azora-Minda

Boden Azora-Minda, of Gardner, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at Saint Vincent Hospital in Leominster on April 13th at the age of 65.

Boden was a licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 18 years of experience, dedicating his life to helping others find healing, self-understanding, and compassion. With a strong foundation in cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation, he brought an interactive and deeply empathetic approach to his work, guiding both teens and adults through journeys of self-exploration and personal growth.

He was especially committed to supporting transgender, nonbinary, and questioning individuals. He took great pride in being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Boden created safe, affirming spaces where people could explore identity, challenge negative self-talk, and learn to treat themselves with greater kindness and acceptance. His work touched countless lives and his impact will continue through the people he helped.

In addition to his work as a counselor, Boden was a passionate artist. He frequently showed his work throughout Gardner and the greater Massachusetts area, sharing his creativity with the community he loved. His art reflected the same depth, curiosity, and compassion that he brought to his counseling practice, offering another way for him to connect with and inspire others.

Boden shared a devoted partnership of 38 years with Catherine Azora-Minda, who passed away in September of 2025. Their life together was marked by deep love, mutual support, and shared commitment to creativity, healing, and community. Catherine remained an enduring presence in Boden’s life and memory, and their bond continued to shape the way he moved through the world.

Those who knew Boden will remember him for his compassion, openness, creativity, and unwavering dedication to others. He believed deeply in the power of understanding oneself and offered that belief as a gift to everyone he worked with.

Boden is preceded by his parents Richard and Louise Thompson and his devoted partner and soulmate Catherine Azora-Minda.

He is survived by his brother, Richard Thompson (Diane) of Grafton VT; his nieces, Grace Thompson of Grafton VT and Mary Thompson of Jaffery NH; his nephew, Clayton Thompson of Graton VT; and his many beloved friends.

There will be a memorial showing of Boden’s art at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner, 66 Elm Street, Gardner, MA 01440.

Boden’s legacy of care, acceptance, creativity, and healing will live on in the many lives he touched.