A funeral Mass on behalf of retired Decatur City Schools employee Maritza Chase of Decatur will be celebrated at noon Friday, March 8, at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church in Decatur, her family annnounced.
Mrs. Chase died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, after suffering a massive stroke. She was 67.
Born Maritza Peñalver Rodriguez in Caracas, Venezuela, on Nov. 1, 1956, Mrs. Chase had been a Decatur resident since 1996, and was retired after two decades as a custodian at Austinville Elementary School.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melania Plana and Ismael Izaguirre; sisters Melania Izaguirre Plana and Elba Izaguirre Plana; and brothers Ismael Izaguirre Plana and Raul Izaguirre Plana.
She is survived by four children, Abraham Moises González Peñalver of Caracas, Marilin Johana González Peñalver of Lima, Peru, Dixie Lee Lobas (Zach) of Decatur, and Roy Neil Chase (Gary) of Madison; five grandchildren, Brayan Moises González of Caracas, Oscar Josué Lopez González of Lima, Peru, Johana Noelia Miller of Attalla, Anaheim Penelope Lobas of Decatur, and Isabel Yasmín González Niño of San Cristobal, Venezuela; a sister, María Magdalena Izaguirre Plana of Caracas; and twin nieces Marielix Monsanto Izaguirre and Mayerling Monsanto Izaguirre, both of Caracas. Her ex-husband, former Decatur Daily writer/editor Mitch Chase, was also listed as a survivor.
Visitation will begin at the church a half hour before the funeral Mass. Mrs. Chase had made known that her preferred color of mourning was white.
Shelton Funeral Home of Decatur handled arrangements.
