Sister Christina Aldarelli, IHM

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. Mary’s 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.

Prayer and Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Suzie Armbruster, IHM Leadership Team Member

Today we gather to celebrate the life of our Sister, your sister, Sister Christina Aldarelli. Christina was born on December 23, 1936— almost a Christmas Day baby! She was the daughter of Nicholas and Mary Aldarelli.

Christina grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and enjoyed the companionship of her two sisters, Ursula and Frances, and her two brothers, Ralph and Nicholas. Nicholas was the youngest, and there was quite an admiration between the two of them.  When Christina was to choose her name in religion, she asked to be named Maria Nicholas. Maria, in honor of her mother, and Nicholas, in honor of her father, and of course her baby brother Nicky. She was proud to share his name and spoke often and always of her baby brother, Nicky.

Christina was very proud of her Italian heritage and was quick to let you know she was Italian, as if you couldn’t tell by her quick speech and expressive hand motions.  She would speak of aunts, uncles, and cousins— and by the way she spoke, I think she was related to everyone in Asbury Park!  When we listened to her stories about family, you quickly picked up that she was the princess among them all. She adored them, and they adored her.

Christina entered our congregation in 1954 and was professed in 1957. When she entered, she desired to be an educator. She taught in our elementary schools and possessed the gift of relating to young children, while also having a rapport with the middle school students.

She served as principal and assistant principal and accepted whatever assignment she was asked to take on. Her journey in education brought her to schools in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even a brief stay in Oregon.

She prepared children to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion and was always proud of teaching them the poem, “Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue,” for the school May crownings. She was devout and made sure the children were taught to be devout as well.

I lived with Christina in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Upon her arrival, she learned that living in the South was quite different from our Northern houses. We took turns cooking dinner during the week, and often we were rushing home from school to make sure dinner was ready by 5:30.  Chris was known for her delicious “Sunday gravy”— no matter what day of the week she was scheduled to cook, it was Sunday gravy!

The first time she wrote on the menu “pasta and gravy,” I was intrigued to see what we would be eating, as pasta and gravy was a new one for me! When I stalked the kitchen, I discovered it was spaghetti sauce. She was firm in letting me know it was never to be called sauce, but rather, gravy.  The recipe was a tradition in her family and was, indeed, delicious even if it was red. Christina would often make her gravy on Sunday just in case she ended up staying late at school on her scheduled day. She loved taunting us with the aroma as it simmered all day. The scent would permeate the house, and if you were lucky, you might be treated to a slice of Italian bread with gravy late on a Sunday evening— before she hid it in the back refrigerator to be used on her day during the week.

Christina was an avid learner and especially enjoyed taking classes to deepen her knowledge in religious studies. After her years in schools, she ventured into parish work as a Director of Faith Formation. For the most part, that brought her back to familiar territory and close to home and family in New Jersey. As Director of Faith Formation, she was able to share her love of faith, Church, and breaking open the Word with parishioners of all ages— children as well as adults through Bible Studies. She had a way of balancing tradition with newer models, always with a devout spirit.

Her last ministry was serving as a chaplain in the state hospital. I am sure she was able to teach prayers and Scripture, share faith, and bring comfort to many of the patients. Christina may have been small in stature, but she was not small in her energy or her desire to serve God.

Christina, you are now home— not only with your loving God, but reunited with your parents, your brother Nicky, the many members of your family, and your IHM family. Rest in peace, servant of God.