Sister Marie Altier, OSF, who taught for nearly 40 years in various dioceses, died Dec. 17, 2019, at Stella Niagara Health Center, Stella Niagara. She was 95.

Born Dec. 1, 1924, in Corning, Ohio, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Marino) Altier entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity on Sept. 1, 1945, at Stella Niagara. She professed her first vows Aug. 18, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows three years later, taking the name Sister Rosita.

Sister Marie began teaching in the Diocese of Buffalo in 1947 at St. Joachim School in the city of Buffalo. She went on to teach at St. Benedict School, Buffalo; St. Lawrence School, Buffalo; St. Michael School, Warsaw; St. Peter School, Lewiston; Mount Carmel School, Silver Creek; and Holy Trinity School, Dunkirk. She also taught in the dioceses of Columbus, Ohio; Wheeling, West Virginia; and Trenton, N.J. 

In 1985, Sister Marie became a staff assistant at the Stella Niagara Health Center. Five years later, she became a post master at the Stella Niagara Post Office, while also serving as director of guest refugee program at Stella Niagara.
She retired at in 2005 and became a resident of the Stella Niagara Health Center in January 2017.

Sister Marie had a great love for the poor and all those on the margins. This was evident in the 15 years she cared for refugee guests at Stella Niagara.  She also volunteered for many years with the Women's Respite Program by organizing and running "S. Marie's Boutique" which provided clothing and accessories for respite participants.

One of 11 siblings, Sister Marie is survived by her brother Nicholas Altier of Ohio as well as numerous nieces, nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at the Sisters' Chapel, Stella Niagara, on Dec. 19. Burial will follow at the sisters' cemetery at Stella Niagara.