Lawrence D. Westawski

March 3, 2024

Lawrence D. Westawski, 83 of Plains Township, passed away Sunday evening, March 3, 2024 at VITAS Healthcare Hospice, Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, with his family by his side.

Born in Plains on March 31, 1940, he was the son of the late William Walter and Stella (Mahalick) Westawski.

Larry was a graduate of Plains Memorial High School, Class of 1958.  After graduation, he joined the military.  He was very proud of his service as an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force, accepting an assignment at Torrejon Air Force Base, Madrid, Spain, from 1959 to 1962.

From 1962 until 1967, he worked in various chemical and manufacturing jobs in New Jersey until he matriculated at Kings College and later at Bloomsburg University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education.  He subsequently taught English and Spanish at Crestwood High School for 34 years.

A fierce liberal thinker, he cared deeply about those who were less fortunate.  As an educator, he worked to see a more equitable society.

Through his teaching and life in the Plains area, he was recognized by many people.  If he made a phone call to discuss a bill or to have a question answered, he always began his conversation with “This is Larry from Plains.”  Believe it or not, the person on the other end of the phone recognized who “Larry from Plains” was.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Frank, Jackie, Walter, Martin, and Anthony, and his sisters Martha, Florence, and Eleanor.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Donna (Kulikowski) Westawski, children David (Garland), Amy (Dave), and Matthew (Christina), grandchildren, Benjamin, age 11, and Brayden, age 6, sister Patricia Gryziec, several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be held Friday, March 8, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Corcoran Funeral Home, Inc., 20 South Main Street, Plains, PA  18705, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Saints Peter & Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains, PA 18705, with Father John C. Lambert, Pastor, officiating. A live stream of the funeral mass will be on the parish FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE pages. Entombment with Military Honors accorded by the United States Air Force and the Plains American Legion Funeral Honors Detail, will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township, PA.  Family and friends may call Thursday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Memorial donations if desired, may be made to the Medical Oncology Prescription Assistance Fund, 382 Pierce Street, Kingston, PA 18704, or to the American Heart Association, 4250 Crum Mills Road, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17112, in Larry’s memory.