Our friend and Second-Year Fellow, Lisa Gaye Thompson of Millvale, New Jersey, passed away last month after a brave and tireless fight against thyroid cancer. She was fifty-five years old.
Lisa dedicated the last years of her life to helping those less fortunate, through active volunteerism with the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky and L’Arche through the LVC in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, she wrote: “I have admiration for LVC’s mission to be a community of faith uniting people to work for peace with justice. I would like to meet those goals with LVC. It would give me the opportunity to continue to make my dream to give encouragement and support to others to keep working towards their dreams. People who live in peace with justice can feel safe and thrive in their community.”
The following are words of remembrance from Lisa’s friends and colleagues, as well as a photograph of her time as an LVC Fellow.
“Lisa Thompson had a heart for service. As a second-year fellow placed at L’Arche DC, Lisa exuded the values and mission of LVC. Her faith was important to her, and she lived out her faith in so many ways. In getting to know her over these two years, she would often worry about others’ needs, even above her own. Lisa found her village at L’Arche and LVC and affected people in meaningful and impactful ways. We will miss you and will honor your heart for service. Thank you.” – Shae Agee, National Program Director of the LVC
“Lisa and I grew up across the street from each other. As young girls, we played Barbies, collected an exorbitant amount of Shaun Cassidy posters, and enjoyed countless sleepovers. She came on family camping trips and vacationed in OCNJ with my grandparents. We were inseparable.
“As we got older, many people mistook Lisa’s gentle spirit as weakness—someone fragile who needed our care. The reality, however, is that Lisa was the strong one of our duo. A fierce survivor. She left NJ and carved out a life in CA, WV, KY, and DC. She embraced solitude and uncertainty. In the face of continuous adversity, she perpetually forged forward. Lisa’s true strength was her willingness to be vulnerable, to genuinely share herself with others, to not be afraid of criticism for being herself.
“My world is infinitely better because Lisa was in it. I, as a person, am infinitely better because Lisa was my friend.” – Kris Wentzel
