Lynn Zurbach Obituary

Lynn Marie Zurbach (née Neville) died May 23, 2025, surrounded by family in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Born April 27, 1945 in Hawthorne, CA to Donald and May Neville, Lynn lived a full and vibrant life. A devout Catholic, Lynn was known for her compassion, kindness, and love -- and also her sense of humor and penchant for storytelling. Lynn loved telling a good story, likely because she lived a wildly hilarious and adventurous life. From accidentally joining a road rally in 1960s Portugal (coming in second place, no less!) to being circled by sharks while blissfully swimming with her husband on their honeymoon in Hawaii, Lynn was always at the ready with a good story.

Lynn also lived a life of service -- whether it be through her devotion to her patients as a radiology nurse, her work as a volunteer, or her unparalleled hospitality as a wife and mother. In 1971, she moved to Mexico to volunteer at the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos orphanage -- an experience that not only enriched her spiritual life, but also further inspired her lifelong passion for volunteerism. She continued working with children by volunteering in special education and kindergarten classes long after her own kids were school-aged. She delivered food and provided compassionate visits to AIDS patients at a time when most people were still uncomfortable with the illness and often shunned those afflicted. She worked for years serving the Assistance League of Laguna Beach and Wilshire Hospice of San Luis Obispo by volunteering at their respective thrift stores. Above all, she was a constant presence in her children's lives and worked tirelessly at their schools when they were growing up as room mom, team mom, carpool mom; frankly, she was just the best mom.

Lynn always said that the best decision she ever made was marrying Randy. Their life together was one of mutual partnership, respect, good music, long drives, and so much laughter. She was adorable, and he absolutely adored her.

To know Lynn was to love Lynn, and Lynn loved so many things: freshly cleaned linens, talking on the phone, traveling, a good deal, Maui sunsets, a cold beer on a hot day, mariachis, cheese enchiladas and crispy beef tacos, touring model homes, buying barn decorations for her brother Jim, Miner's hardware store popcorn, singing Phantom of the Opera with a tea towel strategically covering one half of her face, Andrea Boccelli, the Academy Awards, and she "never met a potato [she] didn't like;" but most of all she loved being a friend, an aunt, a sister, a grandma, a mom, and a wife.

While the world now feels a little less vibrant, Heaven certainly got brighter and a whole lot funnier with her there.

Lynn leaves behind her husband of 52 years, Randy, their children Matthew Zurbach, Christine Zurbach, and Kathleen Zurbach Fujii (Brian Fujii), and grandchildren Hudson Zurbach, Zoe Fujii, Irelynn Zurbach, Penelope Fujii, and Theodora Fujii.

A funeral mass will be held June 5th at 2pm at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in San Luis Obispo, with a reception immediately to follow at NZ Ranch. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Fr. Jim Sichko's missionary work, as Lynn felt greatly comforted and inspired by his teachings in this last season of her life: https://www.frjims.com/donate.