Sister Roberta Thompson

Sister Roberta Ann, SNJM (Sharon Thompson), died on Wednesday, August 9 in Silver Spring, Maryland, after more than 60 years as a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, serving the people of God as a devoted and talented educator. Sister Roberta was born in Mineola, New York, one of four children of Robert Thompson and Nancy (Rapp) Thompson. She is survived by her sister Jane Thompson, a brother Bill Thompson, and Pat Thompson, the wife of her deceased brother, Bruce, and her nieces, Sara, Ann Marie and Kate, nephews Vinny and John, as well as her Holy Names Sisters, and countless friends, colleagues, and students with whom she shared her personal and professional gifts. In addition to her Albany religious formation with profession of vows in 1964, Sister Roberta earned a B.S. in Education at Medaille College, Buffalo, New York, and an M.A. in Religious Education at St. Michael’s College, Winooski, Vermont. Her engaging, smiling personality helped make Sister Roberta a successful elementary teacher in parish and SNJM community schools from 1966 through 1995: St. Gabriel, in Washington, D.C., St. Peter Claver and AHN in Tampa, FL, St. Catherine of Siena, Albany, NY, AHN Lower and Middle School in Albany, NY. Following an enriching year’s sabbatical study at the Washington Theological Union, she went on to serve as the Director of Religious Education at Little Flower Parish in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1996 to the present. The parishioners, staffs, atmosphere, and mutuality so vibrant at Little Flower made ministry there one of her most treasured blessings. Sister Roberta also gave SNJM community service as Albany Sisters’ Regional Coordinator for two years and has been currently an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Mission Centre team. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Noon, Friday, August 18, at the Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. Visitation with the family and the Sisters will take place before the Liturgy, starting at 10:30 a.m. At Sister Roberta’s request, she will be buried in the SNJM community plot at Calvary Cemetery in Glenmont, NY, (Rt.9). That committal ritual of gratitude and farewell will take place graveside Thursday, August 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Friends of Sr. Roberta are warmly invited to join us Sisters in celebrating her time with us and our joy at her entry into her full new life. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Roberta may be made to: Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, P.O. Box 398, Marylhurst, Oregon 97036.

Sister Roberta Thompson

December 9, 1944 - August 9, 2023