08/24/2026
As you may have heard, longtime AGO organist and member Lois Toeppner and her husband passed away recently. Below is an article about Lois and her time as an organist in Westborough.
Both Lois and Tom have chosen to be cremated. Here are the details of their final arrangements followed by a write-up (thanks to Will Sherwood). The family hopes to see you at any or all of these events and asks that you pass this information on to anyone else that had a special relationship with Lois and Tom.
Thu. 8/27 4:00 - 7:00 pm | Viewing for both Tom & Lois at Nordgren Memorial Chapel - 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA
Fri. 8/28
11:00 am | A Celebration of Life at Trinity Lutheran - 73 Lancaster St, Worcester, MA
12:00 pm | Processional to All Faiths Cemetery Worcester, MA for less than 30 minutes
2:30 pm | Reception at Walker Meadow Club House - 6 Wessonville Village Way, Westborough, MA
Lois Toeppner was a graduate of Central Michigan University and the Boston Conservatory, where she received the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance. She performed in recitals at Worcester's Mechanics Hall, Methuen Memorial Music Hall and Old South Church, Boston. She also performed as an accompanist and soloist with the Myron Heaton Chorale of Nevada in five European tours. She was Worcester AGO’s Sub-Dean and served as Worcester Dean for a period in 2020. She also chaired many workshops, and concert series.
In addition to her local service, Lois also served at the National level as Registrar for the Boston National Convention in 1990, as a Regional Convention Chair in 1981 and again in 1999, that yielded over $35,000 in profit for the Worcester Chapter. She served as Regional Councilor from 2000 to 2006, as Chair of the International Year of the Organ in 2007, and finally as National Secretary from 2008 to 2014. She was asked to run for President of the AGO after that but declined.
Lois was Organist at Sudbury United Methodist Church and then served for 29 years as Minister of Music, St. John Lutheran Church, Sudbury. Her duties included: organist, choir director, handbell choir director and coordinator of instrumental musicians. Throughout her career, Lois was a busy organist for weddings and funerals, and she served area churches as a substitute organist and choir director. Lois’ spunky nature, creative leadership, and dynamo energies will be sorely missed in our music and church communities.
Lois Z. Toeppner of Westborough, a renowned organist and music minister known for her 'dynamo energies,' has died at age 87.
