Edith Burke Mazzei

Edith Burke Mazzei Resident of Clayton Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, April 10, 1921 and died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family in Clayton, CA on September 3, 2010, at the age of 89. Edith was the oldest surviving sibling of four children of Margaret and Absy Burke, whose descendants settled in New Zealand from England & Lebanon. Her family moved to Wellington when she was six, where she grew up and went to school. Following University, (NZ high school) she began her working career in her uncle's pajama factory. She became one of the factory's head seamstresses's and soon learned her passion was sewing. When the war began, the factory transitioned to producing New Zealand and Australian uniforms. She met Lamar "Slats" Mazzei at a USO dance in Wellington, New Zealand during the war. He was recovering on a Red Cross ship from shrapnel wounds that he received at Guadalcanal. After the war Slats returned to NZ and the two were married on April 22, 1946. They traveled to America and settled in El Cerrito. They eventually moved to Clayton in 1959, where they raised their family. Edith was a loving mother of Michael, Cristine and Matthew Mazzei, devoted grandmother of Michael, Danielle, Angela and Matthew Mazzei and great grandmother to Kayala, Mason, Rachel, Mikey, Jennifer and Samantha. She was active in the Clayton Women's Club for more than 40 years, winning many Blue Ribbons for her sewing and crochet. She was committed to doing all she could to contribute to the club's various charitable projects. Edith became involved with Camellias in 1972 and joined the American Camellia Society, (she became an avid judge). Edith was also involved in the New Zealand & Australian Camellia societies as well as being the Vice-president of the Pacific Coast American Camellia Society. She was very active in local and regional societies and traveled to meetings all over the nation as well as international conferences. A dear friend, Frank Purcell, grafted and documented a Camellia in her name as a legacy to her contribution to the Camellia societies. Edith will always be remembered for her sense of style and fashion, being an independent woman, gracious hostess, loyal supportive friend, generous community volunteer and above all, her love of family. She suffered with Alzheimer's Lewy Body dementia for the past four years, but still retained her quick wit and great sense of humor. The family is eternally grateful to her devoted caregiver, Amelia Johnson. There will be a Funeral Mass for family and friends on November 11th at 2pm at St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church in Clayton, followed by a Life Celebration in the parish hall. Her ashes will be interred with her mother, father and brother in the Karori Cemetery in Wellington, New Zealand. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her honor to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice.

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