Sister Joan Marie Thompson, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Vincent) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
Born July 29, 1938, in Syracuse, NY, Sister Joan Marie was the daughter of the late John and Mildred Connor Thompson. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1956, made temporary profession of her vows on March 12, 1959, and final profession of her vows on March 12, 1964.
Sister Joan Marie received a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master of Science degree in reading, both from Marywood College.
Sister Joan Marie served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA, from 1959 to 1963; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1963 to 1964; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1964 to 1969; St. Patrick Elementary School in Olyphant, PA, from 1969 to 1970; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1975 to 1980 and 1995 to 1999; Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1980 to 1983; and St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1983 to 1985.
Sister served as principal at St. Clare Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1970 to 1975; and Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1985 to 1995.
She lovingly cared for her aged mother in Syracuse, NY, from 1999 to 2002. Sister Joan Marie also served as pastoral minister at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Scranton, PA, from 2002 to 2005; assistant administrator of Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY, from 2005 to 2007; administrator of Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY, from 2007 to 2008; coordinator of the Everyday English for Adults Program at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Scranton, PA, from 2008 to 2015; and on the support staff at both the IHM Center and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA, from 2015 to 2022.
From 2022 until the time of her death, Sister Joan Marie was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was preceded in death by a brother, John J. Sister Joan Marie is survived by a cousin, Kathleen Fidler of Verona, NY; nieces and nephews; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Friday, June 21, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, June 21, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired Sisters of IHM c/o the Sisters of IHM Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
