Sister Madeleine Martel died June 12, 2015, in the health care center of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, shortly after celebrating her 83rd birthday.

Irene Estelle Martel was born June 4, 1932, in Manchester, N.H., the daughter of Ulric and Agnes (Beaudet) Martel of New Britain, Conn. She lived in New Hampshire until 1942 and Connecticut until she joined the Army at age 21. She was a clerk typist in the United States and served in Heidelberg, Germany, in the Army's Communications Division until 1956, when she received an honorable discharge.

The same year, Sister Madeleine joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, after which she began taking courses at St. Elizabeth Teachers' College, now part of St. Bonaventure University. Sister Madeleine received a degree in education, with a minor in sociology, in 1969 and a master's degree in social work from Fordham University in the Bronx in 1971.

She taught at diocesan schools in New York and New Jersey before relocating to Florida, where she spent 20 years serving as a social worker, administrator, director and psychiatric supervisor. She provided therapy and counseling, as well as consultation and education for her patients.

Sister Madeleine is survived by three brothers, Maurice, Paul and Walter, a nephew, Joseph and a niece, Carol Hall.

A funeral Mass was held in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, after which Sister Madeleine was buried in St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.