Audrey J. Lazanas

Audrey June (Zwicky) Lazanas, 91, of Madison, Wisconsin, died peacefully on June 6, 2024.

Audrey was born to Esther Bartels Zwicky and Harvey Zwicky on June 17, 1932, in Fond du Lac, WI. She grew up in her family's grocery store, where her lifelong love of fresh produce and gourmet food was first acquired. After studying education at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, Audrey married George Lazanas, a music professor and composer, who was the love of her life. They worked and studied in Dubuque, IA; Chicago, IL; Champaign-Urbana, IL; and Madrid, Spain. Audrey was widowed as a young woman and moved to Madison, WI, where she lived for over 50 years. 

 Audrey was an educator and an accountant for the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA). In retirement, she volunteered in an intergenerational Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) program, where she shared her love of the arts through puppeteering, singing, movement activities, crafts, and book reading with Head Start preschool children throughout Dane County. Audrey's Spanish-speaking skills, which she acquired when living in Spain, were invaluable to her success working with the many Hispanic preschoolers who were learning English as their second language.

 Audrey loved performing and attending performing arts events. She was one of the early members of the Dance Fellowship, a groundbreaking liturgical dance group at the First Unitarian Society (FUS). The Dance Fellowship performed at other churches by invitation and every summer at Chalice Stream in Ladysmith, WI. Audrey also loved singing and was a member of several different choirs. She was proud to be one of the first women tenors with the Society Choir at FUS, with special performance tours that included Transylvania, Hungary, and Carnegie Hall. She was thrilled to be able to sing one of her favorite pieces, the Fauré “Requiem,” in her last concert with the Edgewood Chorale on May 3rd, 2024 - just six weeks before her 92nd birthday and a month before her death. Audrey had a wonderful sense of humor and a curiosity and passion for learning that inspired those around her. She made meaningful, lifelong friendships, and her cherished friends became family.

 Audrey had four brothers - Orville, Gordon, and Larry, who predeceased her - and John (Jack), who lives in St. Paul, MN. She maintained a special connection with her Zwicky sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Gordon) and Marion (Jack). Audrey has eight nieces and nephews: Jeff, Jani, Mike, Tim, Elle, Craig, Eric, and Lee. Audrey co-created the annual Zwicky women's retreat and shared her love of Bayfield, WI, which became one of our special meeting places. Other fond family memories include the annual "Queen's Tea Party" and monthly Zoom meetings.

 A Celebration of Audrey's Life will be held at the Landmark (Frank Lloyd Wright) Auditorium of the First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Dr. in Madison, WI, on Saturday, July 20, with a service at 1 PM, visitation before and a luncheon after. 

 Instead of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Audrey can be made to the “First Unitarian Society Music Fund” (Madison), the “Lynn Dance Co. at Chalice Stream” (Ladysmith, WI), or the “Edgewood College Music Dept.” (Madison).

 Audrey will be buried alongside her Mother and Father at the Estabrooks Cemetery in Fond du Lac, WI.