Dr. Jorge Alberto Topete

Dr. Jorge Alberto Topete, age 87, Quarry Drive, Bloomsburg, died Tuesday evening, April 5, 2016 at his home.

Born on October 5, 1928 in the little town of Mazata, in the region of Etzatlan, Jalisco, Mexico, he was the son of the late Juan Manuel and Carmen (Fregoso) Topete. He was baptized by a Roman Catholic priest who was on the run, because of the persecution of the Mexican Catholic Church by Presidente Calles

When Jorge was seven years old, his family moved to Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco. At the age of twelve he entered the diocesan seminary in Guadalajara and later entered the Franciscan Order. He studied in Monterrey, Mexico; Teutopolis, Illinois and Paderborn, Germany. He left the Order in 1955.

Jorge married Carol Ridenour in November, 1965 and they celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary in 2015. They moved to the United States where he studied at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and obtained his Ph. D degree in Romance Languages. He taught at Cheney University and later at Bloomsburg University. He retired in May, 1996 after 28 years of teaching at the collegiate level. He was a polyglot, speaking six languages fluently and able to read various others.

He was an avid reader and a student in various areas, especially the Bible and Church History, all of his life. He was a lover of music, especially opera; a lover of travel; a photographer and a gardener.

Jorge was a member of St. Michael's Parish, Scranton, and of the Carmelite Monastery, Elysburg, of the fraternity of St. Peter, attending the Tridentine Latin Mass.

Surviving in addition to his wife Carol, are a step daughter, Mara Leah Naber; four step-sons: Peter, Mark, James and Sean Naber; his only biological son, Paul Jorge Topete, and his wife Tarrah Beth and their children: Joshua Paul Topete, John Patrick Topete, and soon to be born, Jasmine Selah Topete. He was preceded in death by his brother, Raul Armando Topete and his sister, Aida Topete de Zamarripa.

A Tridentine Latin Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a. m. in the Carmelite Monastery, Monastery Road, Elysburg, by Father Szada. Interment will be in Guadalajara, Mexico under the main altar of the Temple Ezpiatorio Roman Catholic Church, at the convenience of the family

A viewing will be held on Friday from 6-8 p. m. at the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.