Sister Ann Miner, formerly known as Sister Joseph Marie, died May 27, 2015, in St. Mary Center in Buffalo. She was 89 years old.

Sister Ann was born March 19, 1926, to Ambrose and Kathryn (Ryan) Miner of Dushore, Pa. She joined the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in 1949, after which she taught at diocesan schools in Buffalo, Kenmore and Tonawanda.

In 1964, Sister Ann moved to Sumter, S.C., to serve as a teacher at St. Jude Elementary School. She continued her ministry in Georgia, where she was pastoral administrator of St. Julianna Church in Fort Valley and served in Garden City and Springfield, Ga. Sister Ann was director of United Ministries of Savannah, an organization providing food, clothing and shelter to homeless people in Georgia, until 1983.

She taught at Hopevale School in Georgia before returning to Sumter, founding the St. Jude Enrichment Center for children, where she served until 1996. Sister Ann served as a literary instructor for adults until 2000, when she returned to St. Mary Center and the Diocese of Buffalo.

Sister Ann founded "Arts Alive," a program to promote interest in the performing and other arts among local children. She remained in the Buffalo area until her death.

She is survived by two sisters, Rosemary Brunner and Jewel Lukacz, a sister-in-law, Dorie Miner and their families.

A funeral Mass was held in the St. Mary Center Chapel in Buffalo, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore.