Sister Lois Keller, R.S.M., 83, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas Mid-Atlantic Community for 65 years, died July 3 at Calvary Hospice in Lutheran Hospital, Sunset Park.
Born in New York City, she attended Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School in Ridgewood, and then Bishop McDonnell M.H.S., Clinton Hill.

She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, a master’s a doctorate in biology from Fordham University and was certified as a pastoral counselor from the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health. She received a canon law degree from St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy in February, 1951, and professed her final vows on Sept. 5, 1956.

Formerly known as Sister Mary Dolorosa, she taught in St. Patrick’s, Kent Ave., Fort Greene, 1953-55 and 1959-61; St. Therese of Lisieux, East Flatbush, 1955-56; St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, 1961-63; Holy Innocents, Flatbush, 1963-65; Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Syosset, L.I., 1967-69; SUNY Farmingdale, 1973-75, and St. John’s University, Jamaica, 1975-80. She was in community administration from 1980 to 1984.

In 1984, she was elected superior general, where she served until 1993. In 1995 she served as defender of the bond for the Rockville Centre Diocese.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent, Whitestone. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.