Ellen T. Ahearn

Ellen T. Ahearn, 78, a former nun, teacher in Buffalo Catholic schools and university instructor died August 14, 2017, in Stow, Ohio, after a long illness. A native of Buffalo, Ms. Ahearn joined the Sisters of St. Francis in Williamsville at the age of 18. As Sister Maura, she taught in the Buffalo area at St. Clare College, St. Mary's High School, Ss. Peter and Paul School, St. Francis of Assisi School and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School. She later taught at Nardin Academy and St. Rose of Lima School.

After leaving the religious order, she was a primary organizer of the first Women's Ordination Conference in Detroit, Mich., in 1975. She later earned a master's degree in human resource management from Empire State College in Rochester and was a hospital administrator at Lakeshore Hospital in Irving, Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Gowanda and Health Care Plan Medical Center in West Seneca. She was a long-time instructor of labor relations for Cornell University and co-owner of a company that provided personal financial management courses for bankruptcy filers.

Preceding her in death are her parents Thomas and Evelyn (Cleary) Ahearn; brothers Thomas, James and Dennis Ahearn; and sisters Noryne and Evelyn Margaret Ahearn. She is survived by her daughters Therese (David) Tillett and Anne Margaret Zazycki, both of Kent, OH; son Paul Zazycki of Dunkirk; grandchildren Samuel, Molly and Jack Tillett of Kent; and nieces Judith (Norman) Daigler of Alden and Kathleen (Ernest) Scarozza of Chesapeake, VA.

Cremation has taken place, and services will be for immediate family.