Sister Sarah Landis IHM

SCRANTON — Sister Sarah Landis, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was born Feb. 10, 1948, in Wilkes-Barre, and given the name Mary Charlene. She was the daughter of Charles Landis and the late Nancy Messina Landis. She entered the Sisters of Christian Charity Congregation on Sept. 4, 1966, and made her temporary profession of vows on Aug. 21, 1969, and her final profession of vows Nov. 14, 1981. She joined the IHM Congregation in Scranton on Sept. 3, 1977.

Sister Sarah served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Jim Thorpe from 1972 to 1974; St. Patrick School in Chatham, N.J., from 1974 to 1975; Immaculate Conception School in Bronx, N.Y., from 1975 to 1976; St. Jude School in Mountain Top from 1976 to 1977; and Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg from 1977 to 1981. She also served as a campus minister at East Stroudsburg State College from 1978 to 1981; Mansfield State College from 1981 to 1984; director of campus ministry at Mansfield State College from 1984 to 1991; director of campus ministry at Keystone College in LaPlume from 1991 to 1996; and director of campus ministry at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass., from 1996 to 2000. She was Scranton Diocesan director of campus ministry from 1989 to 1996.

Sister Sarah also served as region clinician at Key Program in North Grafton, Mass., from 2000 to 2002; therapist at Tri-County Human Services in Honesdale from 2002 to 2004; therapist at Children's Services in Wilkes-Barre from 2004 to 2005; mental health professional at Friendship House in Scranton from 2005 to 2006; behavior specialist consultant at Community Counseling Services in Wilkes-Barre from 2006 to 2010; administrative director at Advanced Psychological and Counseling Services at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in Kingston from 2011 to 2013; mental health consultant at Luzerne County Head Start in Wilkes-Bare from 2013 to 2018; and therapist at Tiffany Griffiths and Associates in Exeter from 2013 to 2017. From 2018 until the time of her death, Sister Sarah served as a pastoral counselor and therapist for the Pittston Deanery at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from Marillac College, a Master of Science degree in theology and a Master of Arts degree in counseling, both from Marywood College.

She is survived by her father, Charles, of Pittston; a brother, Michael and his wife, Cathy, of Sarasota, Fla.; a brother, Charles (Skip) and his wife, Kelly, of Gresham, Ore.; a sister, Maria Dorton and her husband, Keith, of Falls; and a sister, Catherine Durkin and her husband, Joseph, of Lake Mary, Fla.; nieces and nephews; and grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, with Mass of Christian Burial in the IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton. Friends may call between 3 and 5:30 p.m. at the IHM Center on Monday, Jan. 21. A prayer service will be held at 4 p.m. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, at a later date.

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