Sister Mary Kathleen Murphy died Feb. 18, 2016, at Olean General Hospital. She was 98 years old.

Mary Josephine Murphy was born May 13, 1917, in Winchester, Mass., to Edward and Margaret (McElhinney) Murphy of Woburn, Mass. She joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 1943, professing final religious vows in 1950.

Sister Mary Kathleen attended St. Elizabeth Teachers' College, now St. Bonaventure University, receiving a bachelor's degree in education in 1956, also taking additional specialized courses. She taught elementary school students in New York, Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey, including 23 years of service at Holy Cross School in the Bronx. Sister Mary Kathleen also served as a local coordinator at Holy Cross.

After retiring from teaching, she continued as a part-time pastoral associate in Beach Haven, N.J., a ministry that lasted for 11 years. She fully retired to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 2013.

Sister Mary Kathleen is survived by nieces and nephews.

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