RHONDA L. ‘RONI’ THOMPSON

MEDWAY – Rhonda L. “Roni” Thompson, 47, went to be with the Lord Thursday, March 1, 2012, surrounded by family and friends, after a seven-year battle with cancer from the Millinocket hospital. She was born March 22, 1964, in Bridgeport, Conn., the daughter of Mike and Lorna J. (McLaughlin) Severance.

Roni was a graduate of Schenck High School, class of 1982. She went on to attend Beal College, Bangor, where she was president of her graduating class of 1984, and earned an associate degree in the executive secretarial program.

Roni went on to Husson College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, secondary business education and secondary literacy education. Roni began her working career at Lincoln Pulp and Paper as executive secretary to the mill manager. She served as selectperson for the town of Medway. Roni was an outreach worker for the Literacy Center for the town of East Millinocket, and was most recently director of Adult Education at Schenck High School and was the GED instructor, as well as the program coordinator for the Drug Free Coalition for Millinocket Regional Hospital. Roni was well known for her countless hours of volunteer work. Some of the many projects with which she was involved were Medway Church Restoration, Medway Old Home Days – of which she was a founding contributor, Toys for Tots, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk, Winter Carnival Afterparty, Relay for Life and Katahdin Area Partnership/Y2Y, where she directed a project collecting 1,200 pair of shoes to represent the people who have died from tobacco related illness. Roni was also a member of Katahdin Area Rotary Club and was a volunteer for Calvary Temple Assembly of God Vacation Bible School. In 2009 she was awarded the Citizen of the Year award for the town of Medway, and she also received the Paul Harris Fellow Good Citizenship Award through Katahdin Area Rotary Club for her community service. Roni loved working in her yard and tending her flower gardens.

She faithfully followed her children’s activities in school and church, rarely missing any event. Roni will be remembered as a selfless and tireless volunteer, and a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

In addition to her parents, Roni is survived by her grandmother, Mary Severance of Medway; her husband of 21 years, Calvin M. Thompson; three children, Mikala Dawn Thompson, Matthew Calvin Thompson and Kristin Michelle Thompson, all of Medway; her sister, Joni Lowell and her husband, Scott, of East Millinocket; a nephew, Mike Lowell; a niece, Lauren Lowell; a great-nephew, Cameron Michael; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Roni will also be missed by her beloved golden retriever, Sandy.

Friends are invited to visit with the family 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 2 Orchard St., East Millinocket, where funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, with the Rev. Regginal Adams, pastor, officiating. Gifts in memory of Roni may be sent to a scholarship to be established in her name to EastMill Federal Credit Union, Main Street, East Millinocket, ME 04430. Arrangements are by Lamson Funeral Home, East Millinocket. Messages of condolence may be expressed at

www.lamsonfh.com.