Sister M. Sabine Higgins, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, May 9, 2021, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton. She was born on February 10, 1921, in Scranton, PA, and given the name Dolores. She was the daughter of the late James and Sabina McAndrews Higgins. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1942, made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1945, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1948.
Sister Sabine served as a teacher at the following schools: Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1945 to 1949; St. Mary Elementary School in Patton, PA, from 1949 to 1950; St. Stephen Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1950 to 1961; St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1961 to 1968; and St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1982 to 1988.
Sister served as principal at the following schools: St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1968 to 1974; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1974 to 1975; St. Mary Elementary School in Hollidaysburg, PA, from 1979 to 1980; and St. Peter of Alacantra Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1980 to 1982. She served as the assistant principal at St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1975 to 1978.
Sister Sabine also served as director of students and research at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA, from 1978 to 1979; production assistant at IHM Art Studio in Scranton, PA, from 1988 to 1991; on the support staff at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1991 to 2006; and on the support staff at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA, from 2006 to 2010.
From 2010 until the time of her death, Sister Sabine was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a Master of Science degree in elementary education, both from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, John, and Jerome; and four sisters, Sister M. Carmine, IHM, Eleanor Reese, Grace Lavelle, and Carmel O’Hora. She is survived by nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Due to restrictions related to the coronavirus, the funeral mass and graveside service are private. Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
