Irona Bridget “Tibby” Mazzola
11/01/1924 - 12/30/2020

Irona Bridget “Tibby” Mazzola went peacefully to heaven on December 30, 2020, at the young age of 96 with her loving family surrounding her. Born in Church Point, LA on November 1, 1924 to Clement Thibodeaux & Eliza Cortez Thibodeaux, she was the 5th in her family of nine children and was a hard-working young girl.

Upon graduating high school in Lawtell, LA as salutatorian, she attended the University of Southern Louisiana, became a Licensed Practical Nurse, and moved to Orange to work at Francis Ann Lutcher Hospital around 1945. She married Benny Mazzola, Jr. in February of 1947 and together they had seven children.

Tibby is preceded in death by her parents; her 8 siblings; her husband Benny Jr. of 51 years; one of her 4 daughters, Virginia (Gigi) Luna; 2 of her 3 sons, Dr. Benny (Beno) Mazzola III, and Dr. Steven D. Mazzola.

She was a great wife, mother, mother-in-law, daughter, aunt, and sister, and was blessed with having so many friends who loved her. The love she gave and received is testament to the special person she was to all who knew her. Though she endured more than her share of grief during her life, Tibby remained a true and loyal follower of Christ. As the ultimate mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her home was always buzzing with family, children, and friends during the many gatherings throughout the years. She was a gourmet cook, a comedian, a “stunt-driver”, and with her tender heart, she could make people laugh and cry during the same conversation. She was a vivacious, joyful lady who loved being around her family, friends and her home was always open, and she never met a stranger. She routinely prepared meals for others and generously supported numerous missions and charities. She was the “Matriarch” of our family and was affectionately known as “Matey”. Tibby was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and shared her faith as a religious education teacher as well as Eucharistic Minister at the hospital and nursing homes. Additionally, she was a member of Catholic Daughters of America - Court St. Cecilia, the Shalom Prayer Group, and she helped organize and establish both the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Orange Christian Services.

Those left to cherish, uphold and honor her memory are: son Gilbert Mazzola and wife Debbie; daughters Liz Mazzola Oliva, Anita Mazzola-Layne and husband Jim, Gail van der Maas and husband Paul; daughters-in-law Linda Kay Mazzola and Michele Smith, all of Orange.

Also her nineteen grandchildren are: Bridget Luna Trawhon, Benny Mazzola IV, Brian Mazzola, Amanda Mazzola Goss, Joe “Buppy” Luna III, Brady Mazzola, Lisa Mazzola Mathews, Emily Mazzola, Leslie Mazzola Hogan, Steve Mazzola, Jr., Kathryn Oliva, Adam Mazzola, Richard Drouillard, Jr., Lauren Mazzola Hogan, Jude Layne, Felicity Layne French, Marleen Hamoen, Yvonne Kroon, and Paul van der Maas, Jr.,


Tibby also leaves twenty-seven great grandchildren, and numerous nieces & nephews from both the Thibodeaux and Mazzola families.

Serving as Pallbearers are grandsons Benny Mazzola IV, Brian Mazzola, Brady Mazzola, Joe Luna III,
Steven Mazzola, Jr., Adam Mazzola, Jude Layne, Richard Drouillard, Jr., and Paul Van der Maas, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers are Henry Goss, Dr. Justin Hogan, Brandon Hogan, Bryan Mathews, and Greg Trahan.

The family expresses sincere appreciation to Tibby’s great niece Telisse Green for her exceptional and loving care over the past four months. And we send a special thank you to the Texas Total Care Hospice team for their exemplary care of mom, particularly, Dianne Parrott, RN and Debra Coolidge, Aide, for their love and support of mom during her last eight months of life. You all are blessings to us.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for memorial contributions to be made to the St. Mary School Foundation, 912 Cherry Avenue, Orange, TX 77630.

Services are under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home of Orange and will be held Tuesday January 5, 2021, at St. Mary Church, 912 Cherry Avenue, Orange, TX as follows: 12pm-1pm Visitation & gathering of family & friends
1-1:30pm Eulogies, obit reading & remembrances
1:30pm Rosary
2pm Funeral Mass

Burial will immediately follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Meeks Drive, Orange, TX and a reception for family and friends at St Mary Parish Hall.

Face Masks are requested out of deference to the vulnerable. Thank You.