Posted September 10, 2025

Sister Joan Golden, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Robert) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at the Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA.

She was born on June 25, 1934, in Carbondale, PA, and given the name Joan Marie. She was the daughter of the late Leonard F. and Beatrice O’Neill Golden. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1952, and made her temporary profession of vows on August 3, 1955, and her final profession of vows on August 3, 1959. Sister Joan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education, both from Marywood College.

Sister Joan served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE, from 1955 to 1956; St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1956 to 1957; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Binghamton, NY, from 1957 to 1960; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1960 to 1964; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1964 to 1973; St. Matthew Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1973 to 1976; Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mt. Holly, NJ, from 1976 to 1979; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1979 to 1981; St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE, from 1981 to 1984; Don Guanella School in Springfield, PA, from 1984 to 1985; St. Rosalia Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1985 to 1986; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Asbury, NJ, from 1986 to 1989; St. Pius X Elementary School in Broomall, PA, from 1989 to 1998; and Holy Cross High School in Delran, NJ, from 1998 to 2001.

At the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, Sister served as receptionist from 2010 to 2017; and, also, as an instructor in the IHM Educational Enrichment Institute from 2001 to 2017.

From 2018 until the time of her death, Sister Joan was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert J., James J. and Thomas J.; and three sisters, Mary T. Gardier, Margaret M. Miller, and Ann M. Golden; and a niece, Cathy Golden.

Sister Joan is survived by nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews living in Maryland and Pennsylvania; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Tuesday, September 9, 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, September 9, 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.