Florida

1,000 Gather at Memorial Service Held for Tewskbury Woman Killed in Las Vegas

The service is at the Tewksbury Memorial High School

A memorial service was held Saturday morning for a Tewksbury woman killed in the Las Vegas shooting on October 1.

The service for Rhonda LeRocque, 42, took place at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Close to 1,000 people came to mourn the death of Rhonda LeRocque, a loved mother, wife, and strong woman of faith.

Ken Ball, a family member of LeRocque, read a statement after the services on behalf of Rhonda's husband, Jason, saying, "Rhonda would have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of sincere concern and support that all of you have shown by taking time to come here today."

LeRoque was among the first people struck by gunfire at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. Her husband, Jason LeRocque, was with her at the concert, as were her father-in-law and 6-year-old daughter Ali, who left before Stephen Paddock fired into the crowd from the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel.

LeRocque is among 59 victims of the shooting. She was remembered Thursday in a statement by her husband as, "the happiest, most caring, sweet, and self-sacrificing person you would ever know."

In a statement, Jason thanked the strangers and first responders who helped get his wife to the hospital, as well as the medical personnel who gave him a previous two extra hours with her before she died.

"I was with her the entire time," he said.

Rhonda LeRocque was a devout Jehovah's Witness who had helped with disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Jamaica. Support from the Jehova's Witness community has been constant as Jason and Ali continue to grieve the loss of Rhonda.

In a statement read by family after the services, Jason said he's relying on faith to get through this pain.

The service Saturday ended with everyone singing a song Rhonda would sing with her daughter Ali everyday. It was called 'Light in a Darkened World.' It speaks of the hope the Bible promises.

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