Sister Elizabeth Thompson, MM

Born: July 3, 1875
Entered: November 5, 1916
Died: July 4, 1961

Sister Mary Elizabeth’s years of patient suffering ended on July 4, one day after her 86th birthday. She had been sick for a while, but her patience and her acceptance of her cross,blessed the sacrifice, and brought great blessings to her Sisters and the missions.

Sister Mary Elizabeth (Anna Regina Thompson) was born in Albany,New York, on July 3, 1875. She was educated in the Public Schools in Albany and later entered Albany City Hospital to train for nursing — she received her R.N. in 1904. She was Maryknoll’s first Registered Nurse.

In the early days of Maryknoll, Sister Mary Elizabeth was the ministering angel to her Sisters, as well as to priests and brothers — in the inevitable illnesses of a growing Maryknoll family. The passing years found numbers of young nurses and doctors, accepting the challenge of the Medical Apostolate. Sister Mary Elizabeth’s personal interest in these neophytes, her words of wisdom, encouragement and prudent advice, and the support of her prayers, helped to form the ideal and guide the course of Maryknoll’s growing Medical Apostolate.

Sister Mary Elizabeth entered our Congregation on November 5, 1916 and received the Habit on March 25, 1917. She was among the pioneer group to be Professed on February 15, 1921. Shortly after Profession Sister was assigned to labor for souls in our convent in Los Angeles, and in 1927 she was appointed Superior at the Venard. In 1927, Sister Mary Elizabeth went to Bethany and 1932 to the Motherhouse — Sister was reassigned to Bethany in 1945, where she has spent the remaining years of her life.

A Requiem Mass will be sung in the Bethany Chapel for the repose of her soul on Thursday morning at 11:00 o’clock. Her precious body will be laid to rest in our Maryknoil Sisters’ Cemetery.