Sister Immaculata Arboline

Obituary of Sister Immaculata Arboline

Sister Immaculata Arboline

Sister of Christian Charity Immaculata Arboline passed away on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Mallinckrodt Convent, Mendham, New Jersey. Sarah "Sally" Arboline (Arbolino) was born in Netcong, New Jersey on February 15, 1931. She was the youngest of the eleven children of Nicholas and Immaculata (Oliva) Arbolino. After graduating from St. Michael's School, Sarah continued her education in Netcong High School.

In September 1946, Sarah entered the candidacy at the Motherhouse and attended Immaculata High School, Mendham. She was invested as a Sister on August 21, 1947, receiving the religious name Sister Immaculata. She graduated from Immaculata High School in June 1948. Sister professed her First Vows on August 21, 1949, and her Perpetual Vows on August 20, 1955.

Although most of Sister Immaculata's active apostolate was spent in nursing, she began her religious life as a teacher at St. John's School in Scranton, followed by St. Nicholas School, Wilkes-Barre, both in Pennsylvania.

She earned her Diploma as a Registered Nurse from St. Michael's Hospital School of Nursing, Newark, New Jersey. Sister furthered her nursing studies, receiving her Bachelor of Science from Marillac College, Normandy, Missouri, and her Master of Science from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Upon completion of her studies, Sister Immaculata began her nursing career at Divine Providence Hospital, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. During her seven years there, she worked in various units as a Nursing Supervisor. She was also a Nursing Instructor at College Misericordia (now Misericordia University), Dallas, Pennsylvania.

From 1971 to 1977, Sister served in various supervisory capacities at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania – in the Intensive Care Unit, Recovery Room, and as Clinical Coordinator.

In 1977, Sister Immaculata served her Sisters as Head Nurse of the Infirmary at Holy Family Convent, Danville, Pennsylvania, and in 1979, she began her service as the nurse at the Generalate of the Sisters of Christian Charity in Rome, Italy. Upon her return to the U.S. in 1997, Sister served as Assistant Nursing Supervisor at Holy Family Convent until 2001, when she was transferred to the Motherhouse in Mendham to become the Head Nurse of the infirmary.

In 2006, the Sisters of Christian Charity began to work with Healing the Children to host children who were coming to the United States to receive surgery for serious medical conditions that could not be treated in their home countries. Given her nurse's heart, Sister Immaculata took the role of "host family" for these children to a new level. Moving beyond merely offering room and board, Sister often accompanied the children and their parents to medical appointments and helped them navigate the health care system. She was also a mother figure and confidant to the parents who accompanied their children here. Over the years, the Sisters of Christian Charity hosted seven children, and Sister Immaculata was integral to the care of each of them. In 2016, Sister was happy to represent the community in accepting the "Sergio Award" from Healing the Children, "presented to volunteers whose dedication, time and compassion have helped to change the life of a child in need."

Sister Immaculata was among the Sisters who moved to the new Motherhouse in Mendham in May 2018, where she continued to be of service wherever possible and was also involved in a ministry of prayer and presence. In May 2025, after having an active Registered Nurse license for 65 years, Sister Immaculata changed her status to "retired" Registered Nurse. Many of the younger nurses in the SCC community over the years remember her as a firm and loving mentor.

Sister Immaculata is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings, including her closest sister, Mary Arboline Ford, who passed away in January 2024.

Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at the Motherhouse in Mendham on Thursday, September 18, at 1:30 p.m. with Vespers being prayed at 4:30 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Chapel of Mary Immaculate on Friday, September 19, at 10:30 a.m. and will be livestreamed at sccus.org. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on the grounds of the Motherhouse. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Sister Immaculata Arboline to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945, or at sccus.org/donate.