Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and treasured friend, Dorlene Alice Norris Mazza, passed away peacefully the evening of Saturday, May 28, 2022, with her granddaughter, Tisha Young, softly singing "How Great Thou Art", and her oldest daughter by her side.  Doug and his sons Josh and Jantzen had been at her bedside throughout the day.

Dorlene was born in Missoula, Montana to Walter Louis and Virginia Mildred Gresswell Norris on August 23, 1938, the oldest of three children.  She spent her years growing up on the family ranch in the Flint Creek Valley near Philipsburg, Montana.  She was privileged to live in a historic home that once served the area as a stagecoach stop.  She enjoyed life on the ranch, raising steers, riding horses, and learning to be a wonderful homemaker.  Dorlene learned the value of hard work and no idle hands early in her life.  This served her well on her earthly journey as her hands were always busy.  Even near her passing, her fingers were moving and comforting.

In May of 1956, and at the tender age of seventeen, Dorlene married her high school sweetheart, Sherman Philip Mazza, in Philipsburg, Montana.  Together, they made a beautiful life for their three children, Sherlene Marie, Douglas James, and Misty Suzanna.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on July 17, 1978.

Life was never quiet in the family as Sherm's construction job took them to live many places where lifelong friends were made, and memories gathered.  The family moved about every two years around the state of Montana, Seattle Washington, and finally to Soda Springs, Idaho in 1973.  This became home for Sherm and Dorlene until their passing.

Dorlene was a feisty, classy, little lady.  She was always dressed sharply, had her own opinions, expected perfection but was very forgiving.  She worked hard, took care of the needs of others, helped many missionaries, and the hand hanging down, or wherever she felt the need to serve.  She served in the Church of Latter-Day Saints in many areas: Relief Society, Ministering Angel, Young Women, Primary, and even the nursery.  She and Sherm served a service mission, were ordinance workers in the Logan Temple for six years, and after Sherm's passing, Dorlene served a one year mission in the Texas Houston East Mission with Dan Moldenhauer as her mission president.  Missionary and temple work brought Dorlene great joy.

Dorlene also served her community in many ways.  She began working in the Soda Springs School District as the Junior High secretary in 1973 and later became the District secretary for the superintendent where she continued until her retirement in 2000.  She loved her job with the school and treasured the friendships with her colleagues and students.  There never was a job that Dorlene wouldn't do to make the schools run more smoothly.

One could find Dorlene involved in other activities including anything that involved her children, grandchildren, and greats.  She loved to attend sporting events, blessings, baptisms, mission farewells, weddings, cookouts, hikes, shopping trips, and any other event.  Her home was always open to anyone, and her ear was always ready to listen.

Dorlene was an accomplished florist, calligrapher, painter, seamstress, and had great talent with the knitting needles and crochet hook.  Many of her family and friends are the recipients of her handiwork.  She loved to read and kept her journal until she could no longer write.  Dorlene loved life and was never afraid to try something new, except for anything involving water of which she had a horrible fear.  She could cook a meal for a crowd with whatever might be in her cupboard at the time, a talent greatly admired by her family and friends. Dorlene enjoyed music, played the piano and the clarinet.

Dorlene was the Co-chairwoman for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for two years in Caribou County and was successful in helping to raise a significant amount of money for a cause that had touched her earlier in her life.  She was a lifetime member of the Lady Verteran's Auxilary, and helped raise a generous donation for the local VFW Post.  Dorlene cherished her membership in the Pink Ladies and the Red Hat Society where lifelong friendships were made.

This sweet, little Irish lady leaves behind a legacy that was her pride and joy; her children, Sherlene Marie Kirby (Kal), Douglas James Mazza (Suzanne), Misty Suzanna Mazza-Olsen, 15 grandchildren and 53 and 1/3 great-grandchildren. Dorlene also had children from other mothers that she called her own:  Donna Merchen, Robert Rigby, Joshua Zentner, Travis Naef, and Masaki Iminishi, as well as many others. She was preceded in death by her eternal companion Sherman Philip Mazza, a daughter Valerie Jolene, her parents, a sister Sharon and her brother James.

There is so much more to be said about the sweet matriarch of the Mazza family.  Dorlene will be laid to rest in the Fairview Cemetery next to her eternal companion on Friday, June 3, 2022, following her 11:00 services at the Soda Springs Stake Center.  A viewing will be held at the Sims Funeral Home Thursday evening from 6-7pm and Friday morning at the Soda Springs Stake Center from 9:30-10:30am, prior to her funeral service.

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