by Lonnie Brennan
GEORGETOWN − Twenty-three members of the Thompson family, not counting a nephew who led the processsion, somberly filed out of St. Mary’s Catholic Church last Saturday. We had all been doing OK during the funeral mass, that is, until the trumpeteer played Danny Boy. Tissues were tugged out of pockets, as many felt the love, the friendship, the gut-wrench of a man as strong as Paul Bunyon, as determined as John Wayne, and as patriotic as the flag itself.
We came to honor Paul Thompson, but really, it was more to thank him for his time amongst us. As his daughter Kelly Stronach included in her remarks, Paul and his bride Buffy who proceeded him were interwoven in so many of Georgetown’s groups, and as a former long-serving selectman, preached that’s it’s OK to disagree, just don’t be disagreeable.
Perhaps that, and his smile and soft words from a towering giant, helped to bring calm and comfort to so many.
In addition to Kelly, his other surving daughter, Sgt. Maj. Suzanne Ramos, accepted the American Flag from the Mass celebrants. Suzanne also provided the readings of Lamentations 3: 17-26 and Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39. His sons Sean and Brian, as wells as grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and extended family are included in those feeling the loss.
“My favorite uncle,” Deacon Steve related after providing the Gospel and Homily.
As the trumpeteer returned to his post and played Taps, The American Legion Honor Guard rose to attention, and were joined by fellow morners, holding hand to heart.
A glance around the pews showed an outpouring of new and old, including well-known figures in our community: former selectman and Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Alan Aulson with his wife Maureen, former Grand Knight Tom Parisi, Rhonda Conte, former fire chief Mike Anderson (current director of operations for the Georgetown schools), ZBA member Tom Mulligan, Mark Anderson, former long-serving park and recs. chair Jim Dimento, highway surveyor Peter Durkee, Sam Demeo, Rob Fogle, former music director Tom and his wife Jan Hand, selectman Robert Hoover, KofC officer Johnny Takis and his wife Maureen, selectman Doug Dawes, former light manager Wayne Snow, Bob and Angie Brown, Paul Rondue, Reverend Bill Boylan, Larry and Kay Ogden, former fire chief Herb McDonald … and hundreds more.
The gathering recessed to America the Beautiful. ♦
