Iris (Shmurak) McDonald set off for her next sojourn on December 30, 2025, after an incredible 83-year journey that changed lives across Vermont, throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Family, friends and countless strangers benefited from her endless compassion, trademark candor, and exceptional skill as a nurse, leader and educator.
She is most deeply missed by her children, Mike, Karen and Julie Mazza; and grandchildren, Haley and Gabe Mazza, and Ben and Sam Mazza-Bergeron.
For a full obituary, please visit tinyurl.com/irismcdobit.
This article appears in January 28 • 2026.
Iris was a client of mine for a few years. She was always jovial, kind, and smiling, and it was a joy to see her each day. She will be missed, and her light will not be forgotten.
I got to know Iris at the library in South Burlington. We talked books and a little of this or that. She was a lovely lady and I was so sad to see she had died. I will miss her!