Sister Cecile Ferland, a Sister of St. Joseph for 71 years, died Aug. 5, 2015, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence in Clarence. She was 90 years old.

Bibiane Ferland was born Feb. 16, 1925, in Highgate Center, Vt., to Leonard and Marie Anna (Bilodeau) Ferland. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1944 and pronounced her final vows in 1950.

In 1952, Sister Cecile received a bachelor's degree in English from Mount St. Joseph Teachers' College, now Medaille College in Buffalo, and in 1958, a master's degree in French from the same institution.

After teaching at St. Joseph, St. Louis, St. Mark and St. Matthew Elementary Schools, all in Buffalo, Sister Cecile taught for 33 years at Mount St. Joseph Elementary School in Buffalo. She was a teacher, principal, coordinator for religion and reading programs, resource teacher and coordinator of religious activities. She served children at the Family Support Center in Clarence for nine years.

In 2003, Sister Cecile moved to the sisters' residence in Clarence, serving as sacristan and helping with elderly and infirm sisters who lived in the residence via the residence's Smiles Program.

She is survived by a brother, Clement Ferland, and a sister, Cecile Laroche.

A funeral Mass was held in the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence chapel in Clarence, with burial in the Sisters' Section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.