Funeral Services Set For Salem Police Officer

SALEM, MA — Law enforcement officers will have a chance to pay their respects to Dana Mazola, the Salem police officer killed in a car crash Thursday, in a visitation Wednesday.

Wednesday's service will be open to law enforcement officers and officials at O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations at 84 Washington Street beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a visitation for family and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. A public funeral service will be held on Salem Common on Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by a burial in Swampscott Cemetery.

Mazola, 56, died Thursday night after a head-on car crash near 321 Jefferson Avenue in Salem. He had been a Salem police officer for 31 years, and his death sent shock waves through the city, with Mayor Kim Driscoll calling it "an unimaginable and heartbreaking loss."

Mazola's complete obituary from O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations is published below:

Salem Police Officer, Dana E. Mazola, 56, of Salem, cherished husband of Florene (Franco) Mazola, died unexpectedly, Thursday, June 25, 2020 as the result of a motor vehicle accident.

Born in Lynn, he was the son of Ernest Mazola and the late Edith (Scranton) Mazola. He was raised and educated in Lynn and Swampscott and was a graduate of Swampscott High School, Class of 1981.

Officer Mazola began his career in Law Enforcement in August of 1988 as a part time correctional officer at the former Salem Jail, and served as an Auxiliary Police Officer with the Swampscott Police Department. On April 28th, 1989, he was appointed a Reserve Officer with the City of Salem Police Department and was appointed full time Police Officer on July 11th, 1990. He has served the City of Salem faithfully, with compassion and dignity ever since. He dedicated 29 years to the Salem Police Department in the Patrol Division, and for the past two years has worked in the Traffic Division. He was a highly skilled background investigator for the Department. In addition, he was a certified Hostage and Crisis Negotiator. He was well-loved and respected by the entire Salem Police Department and appreciated the camaraderie of his family in Blue. Dana had great respect for the City of Salem leadership and the community as a whole. Dana was a man of integrity, devoted to his community and to protecting and serving those in need. For 31 years, Officer Mazola accomplished his job with honor and pride.

Dana was devoted to his loving wife Florene of almost 30 years. He was tremendously proud of his daughters, Amanda and Savannah and his family was the top priority in his life. His Grand-Dog Dwight was his pride and joy. Dana was an outstanding judge of character, was kind, generous, loving and willing to help all in need at a moment’s notice. He was well read, was a huge Boston Bruins fan, and loved a wide variety of music - especially The J. Geils Band. He had many friends who admired and appreciated his incredible sense of humor. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Dana is survived by his wife, Florene Mazola of Salem, his twin daughters, Amanda Mazola of Portsmouth NH. and Savannah Mazola of Melrose, his father, Ernest Mazola of Lynn, his brother, Raymond Mazola and his wife, Susan of Florida, his Aunt Dorothy Sanderson of Salem, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, extended family, his brothers and sisters in Blue and his grand-dog Dwight.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to his public funeral service which will be held on Salem Common, Washington Sq., (near the bandstand) – Salem, Thursday, July 2nd at 11 A.M. Visiting hours at O’Donnell - Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem, Wednesday, July 1st, 2020. Fellow Law Enforcement Officers and Officials are invited to pay their respects from 3 to 4 P.M Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 4 to 8 P.M. Burial in Swampscott Cemetery, Swampscott. All attendees are required to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and are respectfully asked for no physical contact with the family. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Dana’s memory to the Dana Mazola Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Eastern Bank, 19 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970. To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com