Sister Mary (Joan) Thompson, formerly Sister Mary Robert, a Sister of Saint Mary of Namur, who devoted her life to education and research, died unexpectedly on July 7, 2015. She was 87 years of age.

Born in Buffalo on April 5, 1928, she was the daughter of George and Leda (nee Brinker) Thompson. After a year of study at D’Youville College, she entered the convent and made her perpetual profession in 1955. In 1950, she started her studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., finishing her B.A. in English.

Sister Mary’s teaching career had a truly wide scope and included teaching at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Calasanctius School, Christ the King Seminary, Canisius College, Daemen College, and Trocaire College. She was Associate Principal at both Cardinal O’Hara and De Sales High Schools. She also taught Hebrew Scriptures in the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Within the community of the Sisters of St. Mary, she held positions as Assistant Novice Mistress and Provincial Councillor.

Her education included an M.A. in English Literature from St. Bonaventure University, and M.A. in Theology from Notre Dame University, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from McMasters University in Hamilton, Ontario. The research for her doctoral dissertation resulted in her publishing a book, “They Did Not Believe: A New Approach to Mark”. Her writing career continued with a column in the Western New York Catholic called “The Word”, commentaries on scripture used in the liturgy. She also wrote a number of articles for the magazine, “Pastoral Life”. Her knowledge of scripture lead her to become a team member and teacher in the Catholic Biblical Studies Program.

An interest in women of the gospel led her to write her second book, “Mary of Magdala: Apostle and Preacher”. Women took a strong interest in this book because Sister Mary’s writing portrays Mary of Magdala as a leader of considerable influence rather than the erroneous identification of her as the sinful woman of St. Luke 7:36-50. Sister wrote, “To have been the only person, male or female, listed in all four gospels as the first to realize that Jesus is risen and to have announced that message to the other disciples was to have reached undeniable prominence.” If Sister Mary was a most wanted and popular speaker before, this book set her on an even more demanding path of talks.

While Sister Mary’s career was marked by work at a number of educational institutions, none was more important to her than her teaching in the College Program at Attica Correctional Facility. She gave herself deeply to that work, convinced it was one of her more important missions.

Sister Mary Thompson received many honors in her life but she particularly treasured her recognition by the Commission on Women in Church and Society and the Sophia Award from her high school alma mater, Mount St. Mary.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Thompson; her niece, Jeannie Thompson; her brother-in-law, James (Sherri) Denny; her sisters in the Congregation of St. Mary of Namur; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Arlene.

Friends may call Thursday and Friday from 3-7 PM at St. Mary Center, 241 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday at the St. Mary Center Chapel. Friends invited. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda. If desired, memorials to the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, 241 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213, are preferred.