April Rae (Bond) Lubenetski, 51, of Lehigh Township, died peacefully surrounded by family and friends May 19, 2025 while receiving excellent care at the St. Luke’s Brian D. Perin Hospice House in Lower Saucon Township.

She was a master firefighter for the Emmaus Fire Department and a firefighter/EMT for Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.

Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of Ronald and Sue Ellen (Nothstein) Bond and the loving wife of Shawn Michael Lubenetski since 2000.

She was a member of the Emmaus Fire Department for more than 24 years and volunteer with the Lehigh Valley County Animal Rescue Team. She was a firefighter/EMT and previous member of Han-Le-Co and Catasauqua fire departments. She was a rescue and HAZMAT specialist with Lehigh County Special Operations and PA USAR Co No. 3. She had more than 26 years in emergency services.

She dedicated more than two decades of her life serving the citizens of Emmaus and surrounding areas of Lehigh and Northampton counties. During her tenure, she served with steadfast courage, unwavering determination and honor. Her character, compassion and dedication to her fellow firefighters shall never be forgotten.

Despite her diagnosis, she was still seen at the fire company events she could physically go to.

She was a lead customer service representative for United Healthcare. She attained her associate degree in criminal justice from Northampton Community College, with specialized training in alcohol and chemical dependency counseling.

She loved to travel to Disney World, the Outer Banks 4x4 beach house, the Finger Lakes, Maine, Yellowstone National Park and just about anywhere with her friends. But her ultimate pleasure was spending time with her godchildren, nieces and nephews. She was a very selfless person and would make sacrifices so others could succeed.

In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by godchildren, Hunter Bond, Gavin and Corban Underwood, Thomas Andrews, Vera Rose and Cullen Krische; brothers, Andrew Bond, Freddie Solivan, Wilson Solivan with Olga; brother-in-law, Christopher; sisters, Aida Solivan, sister-in-law, Heather Defiore.

A firefighters scholarship fund is being established in her name. Please make checks payable to Shawn M. Lubenetski and mail to 444 Pershing Blvd., Whitehall, 18052-6411.

The Gilbert Funeral Home of Whitehall is honored to handle her arrangements.