Sister Ancilla Marie Mecca died March 12, 2016, at St. Mary Center in Buffalo. She was 93.

The former Denise Anna Mecca was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Angola, to Vito and Josephine (Renaldo) Mecca. She joined the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in 1942 and made perpetual vows in 1950.

Sister Ancilla Marie taught elementary school at St. John the Baptist and St. Paul, both in Kenmore, as well as at St. Mary School in Binghamton and Sacred Heart School in Lowell, Mass. In addition to teaching, she served as an assistant novice mistress of her religious community for several years.

After retiring from teaching in 1988, she continued to serve at Children's Hospital and Nazareth Nursing Home, both in Buffalo. She also taught refugee children and prepared them for the sacraments.

She is survived by nieces, nephews and their families.