Patricia Diane Coffin Mazza

Patricia Mazza passed joyfully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Feb 13, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Born on Nov 16, 1951, she was the daughter of Marvin and Gertrude Coffin. She grew up in Metuchen, NJ, but made her home in Raleigh since 1983. She married her beloved husband Frank Mazza on July 1, 1971 at the St Francis Cathedral in Metuchen, NJ. He was the boy across the street, and they were truly meant to be together. They shared what can only be characterized as a wonderful and enriched 47 years of marriage together.

Patricia graduated from Clara Maass Nursing School in 1973. She loved her job as a nurse working in Infant Care. Patricia was always wanting to help others. When her kids got older (and busier), she taught church preschool in the mornings, where she influenced the lives of many young children. She also volunteered rocking preemie babies at the hospital and loved spending her time with these special little ones.

Family was everything to Patricia. She loved big family dinners and special holiday celebrations. She carried on many of the traditions of her own mother, including a big St Patrick’s Day celebration each year. She never missed a school event, Girl Scout function, dance recital, choral performance or anything her daughters were involved in. When she could, she was on the soccer field sidelines cheering on her grandchildren, Katie and Ryan. She was her family’s biggest supporter! Beach vacations were her favorite event. She loved walking the beach collecting shells, enjoying a good book in her beach chair and dining on fresh seafood. Her family looked forward to their beach vacations each year. She loved to read, sew and craft. She also owned an Ebay store, Child’s Delight.

Animals were her other passion. Over the years, she rescued many dogs and adopted lots of cats. She had a big heart for animals in need. She always had at least one dog, usually two. She loved cats too, and had five cats at one point. She and Frank adopted their beagle Daisy right after they got married. The adoptions never stopped, Maggie, Biscuit, Patches, Spooky, Miss Kitty, Sasha, Bailey, Lily, Lucy.

Patricia is survived by her three daughters: Jennifer, Christa (Justin) and Colleen (Matthew) She was the proud grandmother to 5 grandchildren who always made her smile, Katie, Ryan, Kylie, Jackson and Sadie and 2 rescue dogs, Lucy and Lily who never left her side.

She will be missed by many including her brother Keith (Dottie) and nephew Kyle, her cousins Donna, Kathi and Noreen, her goddaughter Cathy (Shawn) and many other family members and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at North Raleigh United Methodist Church (8501 Honeycutt Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615) on Thursday February 20th at 1:00pm with a reception following at 2:00pm.

Patricia loved to support Animal Rescue. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Wake County Animal Shelter in her name.

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is serving the family.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7