Sister M. Concilia Flaherty, OSF, died Feb. 18, 2017, at age 96.

The former Mary Barbara Flaherty was born Dec. 6, 1920, to John and Delia (Mannion) Flaherty of Roslindale, Mass. She joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 1941 and professed final religious vows in 1948.

Sister Concilia received a bachelor's degree in education from Nazareth College in Rochester, and credits for a master's degree in administration from St. Bonaventure University. She became certified to serve as a long-term care facility administrator in 1971.

She served as a teacher and principal at St. John School in Olean, and St. Ann School in Ossining, as well as assistant principal and library assistant at St. Patrick School in Catskill. She also served in Rhode Island and was the recipient of Northern Rhode Island CYO's Woman of the Year award in 1978.

For three years, Sister Concilia was a councilor, secretary and treasurer of the order's Holy Trinity Province, later serving as secretary in the Allegany congregational office. Later in her ministry, she also administered at St. Francis House in Woonsocket, R.I., and was a case manager at St. Joseph's Villa in Catskill.

She retired to St. Raphael Convent, West Medford, Mass., in 2000, and retired to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 2009.

She is survived by a brother, Francis X. Flaherty, as well as nieces and nephews.                    

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