Born Nov. 24, 1901, in West Louisville, Ky., Louise was the daughter of William Ivo and Dora Blandford Thompson. Her early school days were spent at St. Frances Academy in Owensboro, then she attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy for two years. At the age of 17 Louise entered the novitiate. On March 19, 1920, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Ivo.
Sister Mary Ivo was prepared for teaching music. Her first mission was St William School in Knottsville, Ky. After two years, she was assigned to St Rose School in Cloverport, Ky., for three years followed by one year at St. Mary, Ky. In 1926, she was missioned to Nebraska and taught music at St Bernard Academy for five years, Snyder for one year and Wynot for four years. She returned to Kentucky and taught at St. Angela Home in Louisville, St. Catherine School in New Haven, and Mount Saint Joseph Academy. In 1942, she returned to St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City for four years. She returned again to Kentucky to teach at Fredericktown. She spent the school year 1950-1951 studying music at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas. She came back to teach in Mount Saint Joseph Academy and in 1956 went back to St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City. She returned to Kentucky in 1962 for her final years of teaching —Hardinsburg, Flaherty, Louisville (St. Ignatius and St. Bernard). Sister Mary Ivo was a gifted musician and teacher. She created among students a genuine interest in music. Choirs, choruses and orchestras under her direction gave award-winning performances.
Sister Mary Ivo retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1974. All four of the Thompson sisters enjoyed retirement together at the Mount for a few years – a blessing they each cherished. Sister Mary Ivo never lost her love of music. Even in retirement, she spent hours at the chapel organ and served as accompanist for community liturgies. Her health slowly deteriorated. She died quietly on October 11, 1985. Father Bernard Barnes, OSM, chaplain, and Msgr. Bernard Powers celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister Mary Ivo’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Her Ursuline sisters, Sister Theodore, Sister Mary Vincent, and Sister Geraldine, preceded her in death.