UPDATE: Region pays respects at Southborough firefighter’s wake, funeral

By
Dakota Antelman
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UPDATE: Region pays respects at Southborough firefighter’s wake, funeral
Fire personnel walk around Medway and Southborough fire trucks outside Ginley Crowly funeral home in Medway during Lisa Thompson’s wake on Thursday. (Photo/Dave Bagdon)

UPDATE: This article has been updated with additional comments from the Southborough Fire Department.

SOUTHBOROUGH – First responders from across the region joined public officials as well as friends and family to pay respects to Southborough Firefighter Lisa Thompson on Thursday in Medway.

Gathering for Thompson’s wake, community members then returned on Friday for Thompson’s funeral as they continued to mourn the 38-year-old, who died unexpectedly on April 29 due to a medical issue.

“This loving wife and mother leaves behind a devastated family that is left to pick up the pieces of an unspeakable tragedy,” a GoFundMe fundraiser for Thompson’s husband and two children said, in part.

‘She will be missed deeply by us all’

A Medway resident, Thompson had served as a call firefighter in Medway and Sherborn before joining the Southborough Fire Department in a full-time capacity late last year.

“In her short time with the department, she left her mark,” the Fire Department wrote in a statement on social media on Friday night. “She was a dedicated firefighter/EMT and relished in learning all she could about her chosen profession.”

“More importantly, she was a loving wife, mother, daughter, friend and so many other things to countless people outside of our station,” the department added.

Thompson’s death drew reactions and condolences from across the region, with numerous area fire departments sharing messages on social media.

Outside of services in Medway, Thompson was separately honored on Wednesday night in the opening moments of Southborough’s annual town meeting, with Town Moderator Paul Cimino sharing initial comments from the Fire Department and calling for a moment of silence.

Fire department thanks community

The Southborough Fire Department thanked community members on Friday, sharing additional comments following Thompson’s funeral.

“Although a solemn day, we were grateful for the opportunity to send Lisa off in such a beautiful way and honor her family through fire service ceremonial traditions,” the department’s statement read, in part.
The fire department thanked the Medway Fire and Millis Police departments for their support before and during services this week.
They additionally thanked the Ashland, Hopkinton, Marlborough and Westborough fire departments for providing coverage in Southborough to allow firefighters to attend Thompson’s services.
The Fire Department thanked emergency personnel who turned out in Medway to pay their respects for Thompson.
“We would also like to express our sincere appreciation for the Southborough community’s kindness and outpouring of support this past week, as well as the numerous others who have expressed their condolences,” the Fire Department continued.

GoFundMe fundraiser continues

That aforementioned GoFundMe fundraiser is ongoing, with a goal of raising $150,000 to support Thompson’s husband, Craig, and her children, Dylan and Bentley.

The fundraiser had gathered just under $48,000 as of Friday night.

Those interested can donate at https://gofund.me/5a04cd0b.

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