Sister Christina Aldarelli, IHM

OBITUARY

Sister Christina Aldarelli, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Maria Nicholas) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA.

Born on December 23, 1936, in Long Branch, NJ, Sister Christina was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Mary Fiorillo Aldarelli. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1954, made temporary profession of her vows on August 3, 1957, and final profession of her vows on August 3, 1960. Sister Christina received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Reading Education, both from Marywood College.

Sister Christina served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Marys Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1957 to 1968; St. Henry Elementary School in Gresham, OR, from 1968 to 1970; St. Mary of the Mount Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1970 to 1976; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1978 to 1979; St. Ann Elementary School in East Nyack, NY, from 1984 to 1987; and Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1991 to 1994.

Sister served as principal at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1976 to 1978; St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, NY, from 1979 to 1984; and St. Mary Elementary School in Goldsboro, NC, from 1987 to 1988. She served as assistant principal at St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Binghamton, NY, from 1988 to 1991.

Sister Christina served as director of religious education at the following parishes: St. James Parish in Pennington, NJ, from 1994 to 2001; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ, from 2001 to 2012; and St. Ann Parish in Keansburg, NJ, from 2013 to 2014.

Sister also served as a chaplain at the Clarks Summit State Hospital in Clarks Summit, PA, from 2014 to 2020, and as a member of the support staff at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 2014 to 2020.

From 2020 until her death, Sister Christina was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Nicholas Jr. Sister Christina is survived by a brother, Ralph of Asbury Park, NJ; two sisters, Ursula Fornicola and Frances Giacone, both of Ocean, NJ; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be on Tuesday, January 20, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, January 20, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired Sisters of IHM c/o the Sisters of IHM Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

Sister Christina Aldarelli, IHM

January 8, 2026