Obituary of Thurza Joice Chase

Thurza Joice “TJ”/“Joi” Chase passed away at age 96 in January 2025 in West Hills, CA.  She was born in Chicago to Thurza Florence and Oswald Hansen. Her family returned to Robertsdale, AL to live near her enormous extended family.  At age 12, she and her parents moved to Los Angeles (Westchester), as suggested by her 20-year-old brother, Baron, who worked nearby.

Joi had a lifelong passion for tennis.  She played for Inglewood High School and other teams and clubs over the years.  She enthusiastically followed news about her favorite pro players and watched all the big tournaments.

After she graduated from UCLA in 1951, her strong desire to travel was realized by appointment to the Foreign Service, US State Department. She was assigned to the US Information Agency (USIA) in Saigon, Vietnam from 1952-54. At that time, she found Saigon was indeed the “Paris of the Orient”, a beautiful colonial city.   Her next 2-year assignment was to Tours, France, amidst the many beautiful chateaus in the Loire River Valley. 

In 1955, her sole sibling, Baron, was killed in a naval plane crash and 3 months later her father died of a heart attack.  Her mother joined Joi in Tours, for Joi’s remaining service.  They enjoyed visiting many European countries in Joi’s turquoise Hillman Minx car.  

Upon returning to Los Angeles in 1957, Joi joined the UCLA Alumni Association. At Westwood Methodist Church’s Single Young Adults group, she met the love of her life, John Chase. They were married in December 1960 at Holly Faith Episcopal Church in Inglewood.  John was an engineer at Rocketdyne.  Joi embraced her new role as fulltime homemaker to raise their children, Jeff and Janette, in Canoga Park (West Hills).  Joi later became a travel agent, which led to many travel opportunities.  She remained deeply devoted to her sweet mother, who lived with us from 1986 until her death in 1992 age 100.

After John retired from Rocketdyne in 1993, he and Joi traveled extensively in their 30-foot motorhome throughout the US, and took at least one annual international trip for the next 30 years.  Throughout their marriage, they happily shared their travel adventures with other “Merri-Wanderers”, the group which formed from the Single Young Adults group back in 1960.  

Prince of Peace Episcopal Church was important to Joi. She was active in the Altar Guild for many years, and received spiritual guidance at early Sunday morning services. She loved to cook, hike, garden, and read.  She belonged to many garden clubs, served as president for a number of years, received several awards, and most importantly, made lifelong friends.

Joi was a very special lady and made a difference in many people’s lives. She was interested in all aspects of life and learning. She was a very thoughtful, caring, and generous person. And most of all, she was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.

Joi is survived by her husband of 64 years, John, son Jeff, daughter-in-law Meg, daughter Janette, son-in-law Stephen Gaddie, grandsons Kyle and Cory Chase, Nathan and Liam Gaddie, and great granddaughter, Paisley Stewart-Chase.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Joi will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 8, 2025 at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367.