Sister Mary Paulette Tirone died June 17, 2015, in Hamburg. She was 73 years old and a Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph for 53 years.

Mary Tirone was born Jan. 24, 1942, in Buffalo, to Joseph and Florence (Marotta) Tirone. In 1959, she became a Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph and professed her final vows in 1964.

Sister Paulette received an associate degree from Hilbert College in Hamburg, a bachelor's degree in education from Medaille College in Buffalo and a master's degree in education and guidance from Niagara University. She was an educator and administrator for 45 years, beginning as a teacher at Most Precious Blood School in Angola, Mother of Divine Grace in Cheektowaga and St. Mary of the Lake in Hamburg.

She spent more than 30 years at Immaculata Academy as a guidance counselor, teacher, assistant principal, principal and, for the last five years, as the school's president.

Sister Paulette was also a member of her congregation's leadership team for 16 years, eight of which she served as its general minister. During her ministry, Sister Paulette was named chair of the Buffalo Leadership Conference of Women Religious and president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of Western New York. She was on various boards of trustees and the FSSJ Formation Team.

For 13 years, Sister Paulette lived at Most Precious Blood Convent in Angola, where she was an active member of the parish. In January 2015, she moved to Immaculate Conception Convent in Hamburg.

Sister Paulette is survived by three sisters, Jo Tirone, Gloria (Paul) Campanella and Elizabeth (John) Gajewski; a brother, Charles (Sharon) Tirone and their families.

A funeral Mass was held in the Immaculate Conception Convent chapel, with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga.