Earleen Larson
d. October 25, 2012
Canon Earleen Larson, a beloved member of the diocese who served the Bishop’s Office and her parish with distinction for many decades, died on October 25. She was 85 and in recent months had been undergoing treatment for cancer. Her son Don was with her at the time of her death.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, also a longtime diocesan and parish volunteer hailing from Christ Church, Ontario. Earleen is survived by their three children and their families: son Don and his wife, Pam, and their daughters, Sarah, Katelyn and Bethany — and Earleen’s two great-grandchildren, Addison and Andrew; daughter Patti and her husband, Steve, and their sons, Jeff and Matt; and son Steve and his wife, Cherry, and their son, Adam. She is also survived by many friends.
Requiem Eucharist is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, at All Saints’ Church, 346 Termino Avenue, Long Beach, where Larson was for more than 40 years parish bookkeeper, among other volunteer activities.
After retiring in December 1996 following 20 years on the diocesan staff, Larson continued to coordinate Diocesan Convention meals until 2009. During those years she also served part-time as diocesan archivist after guiding the relocation of many records to the Cathedral Center from Diocesan House in 1994. In 1999, Bishop Frederick Borsch named Larson an honorary canon of the Cathedral Center.
Before her retirement, Larson was secretary to both Bishop Suffragan Chester Talton and the Corporation Sole, for which she provided bookkeeping and clerical support to the bishops diocesan. Earlier, also in this dual role, Larson was secretary to Bishop Suffragan Oliver Garver, Jr., for five years including his 1986-88 tenure as interim bishop following the death of Bishop Robert Rusack.
Larson joined the diocesan staff in 1976 as secretary to three diocesan missioners and programs: those of Christian education, congregational development, and stewardship. In 1980, her focus became stewardship and the diocesan Venture in Mission program.
Larson was also well known to many in her work of licensing lay Eucharistic ministers, and in serving on the Diocesan Convention Arrangements Committee. Throughout her years on the diocesan staff, she was a friend to all, a leader in the recycling of everything from scrap paper to foam cups, and the baker each year of rhubarb cobbler generously shared with all who were privileged to be her friends and co-workers.