Obituary for Lucille Margaret Lazzari (Norbeck)
Lucille was born in Reno, Nevada on August 3, 1934 to Waldemar and Margaret (Evans) Norbeck. She was a native Nevadan, dedicating her life to her family, friends, and community. Lucille made her home feel like your home and everyone feel like family.
As a young girl, Lucille spent her days on the then “outskirts” of Reno, milking her cow, Betsy, watching her father lead the construction of Virginia Lake, and welcoming her cherished younger brother, Wallie, when she was 9 years old. Lucille attended local schools including Mount Rose Elementary, B.D. Billinghurst Junior High, and was part of the first graduating class from the “New” Reno High School in 1952. She forged friendships in school that endured and flourished with lifetime monthly lunch dates and gatherings. Her dedication to friends and family was fierce and as a lifelong member of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, she was rich in faith and grounded in kindness.
On June 2, 1952, Lucille married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Lazzari, while he was on leave from the Navy and days before her high school graduation. Jerry and Lucille dedicated their life to their family, always putting family above all. As a family, they created many memorable moments camping on the Feather River, waterskiing on the Delta, and spending time at the ballfield or in a gymnasium. Lucille didn’t miss a game, recital or special event. Lucille was the best umpire in town and didn’t hesitate to let everyone know; her family understood she was in their corner with every ball and strike.
Lucille’s professional life was dedicated to her career at First National Bank and 27 years at Nevada Bell, where she retired in 1989. Upon retirement, Lucille dedicated her life to advocating and serving veterans and those in need through her volunteer work with VFW Post 3819 and the Veterans Hospital. Along with her husband and the members of VFW Post 3819, Lucille and Jerry coordinated and spearheaded Holiday Food Basket Drives, Flag Presentations, park memorial dedications and an annual Halloween Carnival at the VA Transitional Housing Unit during the 1990s. Lucille’s dedication to helping those in need was rooted in her faith and her struggles of surviving the depression era. Lucille and Jerry, a.k.a. Grandma and Papa, recruited their help for these projects from their grandchildren, who learned irreplaceable life lessons of compassion, community service, and gratitude from their grandparents’ examples.
Lucille was welcomed back into the kingdom of the Lord on November 15, 2020, surrounded by her children. She is preceded in death by her father, mother, beloved Aunt Mae, in-laws Hugo and Cora Lazzari, several aunts, uncles and cousins, and by the love of her life, Jerry, in 2008.
Lucille is survived by a large and loving family, including her three children and daughter-in law, Jerry Lazzari, Kathi Reed, and John Lazzari (Mary Ann); her grandchildren, spouses and great grandchildren, Jeremy Reed (Shannon), Michael Lazzari (Nadia), Justin Reed, JW Lazzari (Cassandra/Audrey & Adaline), Maggie Lazzari (Ana), Zach Lazzari, Jenny Stanko (Chris/Cora, Stella, & Lucas), Andrea Barton (Tyson/Eva, Mickey, & Kyla), and Pete Lazzari (Dabo); her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Wallie and Marilyn Norbeck; her nephew and his family, Matt Norbeck (Stacy/Grace, Charlotte), and her many beloved friends and all those who she made feel like family.
The family would like to thank our friends at Senior Helpers for their continued love, support and service through the last several years. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small private in person family funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 beginning at 10:30 am with a memorial slide presentation followed by Mass beginning at 11am. The family invites all of our wonderful friends and non-local family to live stream the service at the Our Lady of Snows YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7MjBBwPR9Ko5aP21BaYgBg. A more open reception and celebration of life will be held at a later date, to truly celebrate this beautiful woman.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in Lucille’s memory to the Jerry Lazzari Scholarship Program coordinated by VFW Post 3396. Donations can be made online at www.vfw3396.org or by contacting Commander Jerome Washington at 775-336-7053.
As a young girl, Lucille spent her days on the then “outskirts” of Reno, milking her cow, Betsy, watching her father lead the construction of Virginia Lake, and welcoming her cherished younger brother, Wallie, when she was 9 years old. Lucille attended local schools including Mount Rose Elementary, B.D. Billinghurst Junior High, and was part of the first graduating class from the “New” Reno High School in 1952. She forged friendships in school that endured and flourished with lifetime monthly lunch dates and gatherings. Her dedication to friends and family was fierce and as a lifelong member of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, she was rich in faith and grounded in kindness.
On June 2, 1952, Lucille married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Lazzari, while he was on leave from the Navy and days before her high school graduation. Jerry and Lucille dedicated their life to their family, always putting family above all. As a family, they created many memorable moments camping on the Feather River, waterskiing on the Delta, and spending time at the ballfield or in a gymnasium. Lucille didn’t miss a game, recital or special event. Lucille was the best umpire in town and didn’t hesitate to let everyone know; her family understood she was in their corner with every ball and strike.
Lucille’s professional life was dedicated to her career at First National Bank and 27 years at Nevada Bell, where she retired in 1989. Upon retirement, Lucille dedicated her life to advocating and serving veterans and those in need through her volunteer work with VFW Post 3819 and the Veterans Hospital. Along with her husband and the members of VFW Post 3819, Lucille and Jerry coordinated and spearheaded Holiday Food Basket Drives, Flag Presentations, park memorial dedications and an annual Halloween Carnival at the VA Transitional Housing Unit during the 1990s. Lucille’s dedication to helping those in need was rooted in her faith and her struggles of surviving the depression era. Lucille and Jerry, a.k.a. Grandma and Papa, recruited their help for these projects from their grandchildren, who learned irreplaceable life lessons of compassion, community service, and gratitude from their grandparents’ examples.
Lucille was welcomed back into the kingdom of the Lord on November 15, 2020, surrounded by her children. She is preceded in death by her father, mother, beloved Aunt Mae, in-laws Hugo and Cora Lazzari, several aunts, uncles and cousins, and by the love of her life, Jerry, in 2008.
Lucille is survived by a large and loving family, including her three children and daughter-in law, Jerry Lazzari, Kathi Reed, and John Lazzari (Mary Ann); her grandchildren, spouses and great grandchildren, Jeremy Reed (Shannon), Michael Lazzari (Nadia), Justin Reed, JW Lazzari (Cassandra/Audrey & Adaline), Maggie Lazzari (Ana), Zach Lazzari, Jenny Stanko (Chris/Cora, Stella, & Lucas), Andrea Barton (Tyson/Eva, Mickey, & Kyla), and Pete Lazzari (Dabo); her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Wallie and Marilyn Norbeck; her nephew and his family, Matt Norbeck (Stacy/Grace, Charlotte), and her many beloved friends and all those who she made feel like family.
The family would like to thank our friends at Senior Helpers for their continued love, support and service through the last several years. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small private in person family funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 beginning at 10:30 am with a memorial slide presentation followed by Mass beginning at 11am. The family invites all of our wonderful friends and non-local family to live stream the service at the Our Lady of Snows YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7MjBBwPR9Ko5aP21BaYgBg. A more open reception and celebration of life will be held at a later date, to truly celebrate this beautiful woman.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in Lucille’s memory to the Jerry Lazzari Scholarship Program coordinated by VFW Post 3396. Donations can be made online at www.vfw3396.org or by contacting Commander Jerome Washington at 775-336-7053.