Cover photo: Lauren and her husband Don (Credit – Diane Caudullo)
For such a time as this.
Imagine when you meet someone by chance and you just happen to hit it off. A friendship begins, the spouses click, and spending time together becomes the norm.
Then a diagnosis comes and your new friend is now facing the most difficult of hurdles.
Lauren Gleason, well-known from her key roles at Centereach Fire Department, her work in the Middle Country School District, as well as just being a friend and neighbor to many, met Maureen Thompson back in 2020. They connected, including their husbands Don and Lee, and their friendship just grew stronger from there. They enjoyed doing many things together, especially movie nights.
Unfortunately, Maureen received a diagnosis that would change things. It brought on doctor’s appointments and hospital stays, feeling lousy, and facing an uncertain future. Lauren, an experienced EMT, walked alongside Maureen and her husband Lee. She offered practical and emotional assistance and some respite for Lee as Maureen went from hospital stays to hospice. Lauren would leave her day job at Selden Middle School during her lunch to run to Poquott to tend to Maureen and then scoot right back to work. She went after work and often to cook meals, clean the house, and just be there for her friend. She supported Lee to ensure Maureen could stay home amongst familiar faces. Her support also bolstered Lee’s ability to stay strong through what he was enduring.
Same journey with very different perspectives.
Lauren simply stated “ It was an absolute honor to be there for my friend. Maureen was a great lady.”
And when you are helping another – life doesn’t stop and wait. A few weeks ago, Lauren’s husband Don had his own significant health scare, which thankfully ended with his life being saved and he is now on the mend.
Lauren’s days became an even more complicated juggling act. Every day involved work, caring for Maureen, and Lee, then home to care for Don, all while still maintaining her obligations to the Fire Department.
Sadly, Maureen passed away on November 15. Lee was so grateful to Lauren for all of her sacrifice, love, and friendship that he wanted to tell others.
He asked Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) to present Lauren with a proclamation and he requested that it be done in front of her fire department family at a department meeting so she could be honored in the presence of her peers. Ed Romaine was not able to be there but sent a beautiful personal letter and proclamation which was framed and read aloud. The Messenger was notified, as was News 12. Lauren seemed slightly uncomfortable with the recognition, as, in her mind, she was just being a good friend.
However, given the fact that the friendship was still fairly young in the overall scheme of things, it is safe to say Lauren was carefully placed in Maureen and Lee’s life “for such a time as this.”
