Sister David Mary Tyrell OSF

ALLEGANY - Sister David Mary Tyrell, OSF, passed away Tuesday (May 12, 2015) in the Healthcare Center of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany.

She was born Isabel Mary Tyrell on Oct. 16, 1927, in Boston, a daughter of John and Marguerite Lavery Tyrell of Boston.

She was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on Aug. 15, 1949, and professed her final religious vows Aug. 16, 1956.

Sister David Mary attended St. Lazarus grade school in East Boston, Mass., from 1932 to 1940 and spent her high school years at Fitton and Immaculate Conception, both in Boston, graduating in 1945.

Afterward, she worked for a brief time at New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., but she didn't see public work as her life's work. A faithful member of her local parish, she highly valued service to others and decided to enter the order of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She soon began college courses at St. Elizabeth Teacher's College, now part of St. Bonaventure University, in Allegany. Sister received her bachelor's degree in education in 1966 and eagerly began her ministry of teaching.

Over the next 20 years, Sister David Mary taught students in the lower grades in congregational schools located throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Florida. From 1961 to 1966, in addition to her teaching duties, she served as principal at St. Mary's school in Port Jervis.

In 1974, while stationed at St. Aloysius Convent in Oaklyn, she accepted a part-time staff position with the Catholic Star Herald in Camden, N.J., to assist in circulation development. Her role was to promote the diocesan paper through contact with pastors and diocesan schools. Ever passionate about her outreach to others, Sister saw the Catholic press as a "viable and powerful tool for education and as a means to strengthen Christian principles of concern for all through broad and inclusive reporting of relevant issues, facts, viewpoints and activities." That belief served well, as circulation expanded, resulting in greater impact and awareness.

In later years, Sister David Mary continued her loving service through volunteering in the convents in which she lived. In 2006, she was welcomed home to the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany.

She is survived by one sister, Jane Hartney; and two brothers, David and Donald.

Sister David Mary was predeceased by her parents and two brothers, Richard and John.

A wake service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday in the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (May 16, 2015) in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean. To leave an online condolence, visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.