The Rev’d Donna Joan Larson

The Rev'd Donna Joan Larson, a retired Episcopal priest and a resident of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale in Emmaus, PA fell ill at her home on July 18 and died on Sunday, July 20 at the Lehigh Valley Hospital on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown. Rev'd Larson was born in Panama City, FL when her father was serving in the Army Air Force at Tyndal Field Air Base. Her parents moved to Jersey City, NJ when she was one year old. This is where she lived until she was married. After she married Rev'd John Topolewski, a United Methodist Pastor, the couple moved to two rural towns in Susquehanna County, PA. They later moved to Oneonta, NY, where Donna earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education, after which they moved their family to Dallas, PA. She taught English (Literature, Writing, Public Speaking, and Journalism) at Dallas High School where she also coached three interscholastic sports: basketball, softball, and volleyball, both girls' and boys' teams. She was a private tutor for children with reading disabilities and learning problems. She was an advisor for the school newspaper and the facilitator for the school's Diversity Club. After 29 years of teaching, she retired and moved to New York City for three years to pursue a Master of Divinity Degree at the General Episcopal Seminary. In April 2004 she was ordained a Transitional Deacon, and in October 2004 she was ordained an Episcopal Priest. In the Diocese of Bethlehem, she went on to serve Trinity Episcopal Church in Easton, PA, and in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts she served parishes in Lee, Lanesboro, and Chicopee. Since her retirement from full-time ministry, Rev'd Larson continued to serve several churches in the Diocese of Bethlehem as a supply priest. Rev'd Larson is survived by her three children: Cristen Carol O'Brien of Pittston, PA (Jerome), John Mark Topolewski of Lebanon, NH (Christine), and Patricia Anne Gilberry of Allentown, PA. She is also survived by four granddaughters, four grandsons, three great-granddaughters, and one great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Rev'd John Topolewski, in January 2025, and by her second husband, Harry Trebilcox, in April 2014. Donna's love for music and singing was expressed through her participation in a number of community choral societies and church choirs. Starting in the early 1990s, her active participation in the choir and membership at St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre was a significant source of inspiration for her call to the ordained ministry. A Memorial Liturgy of Thanksgiving (Holy Eucharist) for Donna's life and ministry will be celebrated at St. Stephen's (35 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 – () on Saturday, September 20 at 11:00 am. The Right Rev'd Kevin D. Nichols, Bishop of Bethlehem, will preside, assisted by the Rev'd Timothy Alleman, Rector of St. Stephen's. The Rev'd Maria Tjeltviet, retired Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Allentown, will be the homilist for the liturgy. The Choir of St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, led and directed by Organist and Choirmaster Canon Mark Laubach, ARSCM, will lead the music for the liturgy. Canon Laubach will be assisted by Kevin O'Malia, Organist and Choirmaster of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Princeton, NJ, a native of Shavertown, PA, and a former Dallas High School student of Rev'd Larson. Those wishing to make a contribution in memory of Rev'd Donna Larson are encouraged to make a gift to a charity of their choice.