Sister Rose Mary Cauley, GNSH (Sister Mary de Montfort) died Feb. 3, 2017, at Holy Redeemer Hospital Hospice in Philadelphia. She was 81.

She was born Dec. 23, 1936, in Buffalo, to Thomas P. and Alice (Gedge) Cauley. Sister Rose Mary graduated from St. Mark School and Holy Angels Academy, both in Buffalo. She then received a bachelor's degree in Spanish from D'Youville College in Buffalo as well as a master's degree in special education and rehabilitation counseling from Syracuse University. She joined the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in 1954.

Sister Rose Mary served in Buffalo, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Lima, Peru, throughout her ministry, and was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities. While serving in Buffalo, she founded Providence House, a residence for people with and without disabilities, where she served for 21 years. She also served as director of pastoral ministry to disabled individuals for Catholic Charities of Buffalo for 15 years.

In 2008, Sister Rose Mary began serving at Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services/Stepping Stones in Buffalo until her retirement in 2011. She then moved to the order's motherhouse in Yardley, Pa., where she continued to provide service to the order in the form of pastoral ministry.

She is survived by siblings Joan (late James) Hurley; and Joseph J. and Ronald R. (Carlotta) Cauley, as well as nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m., June 3, 2017, at Holy Angels Church in Buffalo.