Jane Kremers Thompson ’46

Jane K. Thompson, accomplished genealogist, beloved mother and grandmother, age 92, of Norwell, MA, passed away on December 14, 2021, in Providence, RI. Born Jane Gerrit Kremers on May 28, 1929, in Niagara Falls, NY, she was the daughter of Margaret Grace (Burling) and Ernest Kremers. As a child, she lived in Lewiston Heights, NY, where she recalled “jumping around in the hay and playing make-believe games.” She attended the three-room schoolhouse in Lewiston Heights and eventually attended Northampton School for Girls (MA) for one year in preparation to enter Smith College, where her mother had registered her at birth. In 1950, she graduated from Smith and married Jack Monroe Thompson. She raised four children while earning a Master of Social Work at Boston College and starting a career as a licensed clinical social worker. In the 70’s while working at Brown University, she became a trailblazer for equal pay – winning a lawsuit against the University for sex discrimination in salary. Once retired from social work, she devoted herself to genealogical research, publishing the award-winning “The Burling Books: Ancestors and Descendants of Edward and Grace Burling, Quakers (1600-2000).” Jane married Henry Irvin (Hank) Stahr, Jr., in 1986. They shared a love of family, reading, games, competitive croquet, Scrabble, sailing and travel. She and Hank lived on First Cliff, Scituate, for 28 years. Jane was predeceased by her husband Hank, in 2014; and her elder sisters Martha Burling (Kremers) Whitmore and Ann Lee (Kremers) Currie. She is survived by her children Andrew Thompson (Loren Brigham) of Providence, RI, Christopher Thompson (Deborah Waters Thompson) of Smithfield, RI, Mary Thompson (Joan Connors) of Moose Pass, AK and Geneva, Switzerland, James Thompson (Pamela Storey) of Jamestown, RI; and stepchildren John Stahr (Jennifer Jonas Stahr) of Hingham, MA, Carol Stahr Savage (James Savage) of Winchester, MA, and Tricia Stahr (Mark Cwetna) of Nederland, CO. She is also survived by seven Thompson grandchildren: Jessica Rohrbaugh (and daughter Mia), Adrian (Caroline Wheeler), Garrett (fiancée Sara Plotkin), Benjamin, Julia (Fletcher Bonin), Lily and Aimei Thompson; as well as six Stahr grandchildren: Stephen, David and Alexandra Stahr and Laura, Elizabeth (fiancé John Hibbard) and Emily Savage. Donations can be made in Jane’s name to Hope Health Hospice, 1085 N Main St., Providence, RI 02904, or to your local food pantry.

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