Sister David Mary Tyrell died May 12, 2015, in the health care center of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany. She was 87 years old.

Formerly Isabel Mary Tyrell, she was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Boston, Mass., to John and Marguerite (Lavery) Tyrell. She graduated from high school and worked in the Boston area until joining the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in 1949, professing her final vows in 1956.

Sister David Mary received a bachelor's degree in education from St. Elizabeth Teachers' College, now St. Bonaventure University. For 20 years, she taught at schools in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida, serving as principal of St. Mary School in Port Jervis from 1961-1966.

In 1974, she joined the staff of the Catholic Star Herald in Camden, N.J., where she helped the newspaper's circulation by promoting it via pastors and diocesan schools. After this, Sister David Mary volunteered in convents until returning to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 2006.

Sister David Mary is survived by a sister, Jane Hartney and two brothers, David and Donald.

A funeral Mass was held in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, with burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.