Mia Gabrielle Thompson

Mia Gabrielle Thompson passed away far too soon on Oct. 2, 2022, surrounded by family. In her 20 years on earth, she was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend, who touched many lives.

Mia was born in Chicago on Nov. 21, 2001 and grew up in Oak Park, Ill., before moving to Rockville, Md., in 2017. Mia was an avid reader and writer, a fan of musicals, horror films and podcasts, a frequent winner at board games, and a creative thinker. While in school, she participated in Odyssey of the Mind competitions, performed in several plays, and was named a Lily McKee fellow at the Folger Shakespeare Library. She earned her GED at 17.

Mia had a heart for helping others. As the eldest of seven cousins, she always looked out for the younger ones. Mia also encouraged and supported many friends fighting their own struggles. In 2020, she was awarded a Presidential Service Corps Bonner Leader Scholarship at Widener University, based on her involvement in volunteering efforts and her passion and commitment for social change. Those efforts included a July 2019 service trip to Copan, Honduras working on construction projects to benefit the local community and helping refugees in many ways through Homes Not Borders. She became a Certified Nursing Assistant in Dec. 2019 and was accepted into the School of Nursing at Widener a few months later, although her health required her to defer her admission.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Brian, who passed away in Nov. 2017, and her grandfather Howard Firmiss. She leaves behind her mom, Teri; brother, Ben; grandparents Becky and Bernie Thompson and Harriet Lewis; her aunts and uncles – Marcy Firmiss, Renae and Chad Campbell, Laura and Sameel Osuri; five cousins and numerous friends.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 4 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Dr., Rockville, Md. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Research Foundation (edsrf.org/donation) or the National Eating Disorders Association (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teri-thompson) in Mia’s memory.