Zennia Jeanette Busse, née Sarvis, of Raleigh, NC passed away on September 9th, 2026 after a bold, well-lived life. Born in rural Horry County, SC on November 26, 1943 to Patrick Cornelius (Neal) Sarvis and Nancy Aiken Sarvis, née Jenerette. After graduating from Aynor High School, she took the train to Washington D.C. to find her fate. There she met Adrian Busse, and within a few years they were married and had a son, Dewey Patrick (Pat). They lived briefly in Columbia, SC, then Cincinnati, OH where they had daughter, Laura Jane before settling permanently in Raleigh, NC.
After years primarily as a homemaker, she threw herself into Busse’s Lock Service, which, with Adrian, she fostered and grew into a successful business. As the matriarch of a thriving and well-respected business she made many lifelong connections with her colleagues in the locksmith trade, many of whom became friends for life. Later, she leaned into various crafts and developed her talent as a glass mosaic artist, accepting commissions, selling at craft fairs, and winning a prize at the NC State Fair. She will be remembered as a devoted mother, daughter, sister, wife, friend, and neighbor, always stepping up to serve others above herself. Her son, Pat, predeceased her, as did her three siblings. She is survived by her husband, Adrian Busse of the home, daughter Laura Busse (Chris Rossi) and granddaughter Daniela Rossi, all of Durham.
A funeral service will be held at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, NC on Saturday, September 19th at 11am, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to the Foundation Fighting Blindness (https://www.fightingblindness.org)
