Aston, PA—Sister Joan Christine Tobin, OSF, (formerly Sister Joseph Christi), 85, died in Assisi House on Friday, December 27. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 52 years. Sister Joan was born in Philadelphia. Prior to her entrance into the convent in 1964, she graduated from Villa Victoria Academy in Trenton and had earned a B.S. in Nursing from Georgetown University.  She professed her first vows in 1967 and later earned an M.S. in Family Counseling from Loyola University in Baltimore. During her years in ministry, Sister Joan served in healthcare as a nurse and as a family counselor and chaplain.

Sister Joan ministered for 16 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Her ministry included working with the retired sisters at St. Mary Convent in Bryn Mawr, as an instructor at St. Agnes School of Nursing, and as a chaplain at both St. Mary Medical Center and Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Langhorne. She also served as a volunteer at Riddle Memorial Hospital. In 2015 Sister Joan moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

During her 10 years in the Diocese of Allentown, Sister Joan ministered at St. Joseph Hospital in Reading. She also worked at both St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland, and at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Friday, January 3. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Joan is survived by nieces, nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

Read Sister Joan Christine’s memorial write-up.