Muriel Chase

December 14, 2023

Muriel Mayer Chase (1925-2023)

MURIEL MAYER CHASE passed away peacefully on December 14 in Whippany, New Jersey at the age of 98. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 61 years, Irving W. Chase. She was born in Elmhurst Queens, New York on July 18th, 1925 the daughter of William J., and Jeannette Mayer of Flushing, New York and was a graduate of Flushing High School.

Muriel was an intelligent, thoughtful, caring, perseverant, and determined individual. By way of example, in 1964 upon learning during a live broadcast by the then surgeon general that cigarette smoking was harmful to your health (all the while smoking under the hair dryer at her local beauty parlor, she smoked a pack a day), she promptly put out her lit cigarette and never picked one up again.

Muriel was an avid fan of musical theater and was the founding president and producer of the Free Synagogue of Flushing Theater Group which after some 40 years is still in existence in one form or another. She was thrilled several years ago of attending a Broadway opening night party and meeting the star of the show. Along with Irving, they also appeared as “extras” in several made for TV movies.

When Muriel and Irving moved to Florida in the 1980’s, volunteerism was the order of the day. They were both community election poll workers and volunteers of the Tamarac, Florida auxiliary police, cruising the neighborhood in their own patrol car. Following Muriel’s love of theater, she was also a volunteer usher at several local performing arts center theaters.

Muriel is survived by her son Bill Chase, daughter Laurie Spiegel, son-in-law Steve Spiegel, and grand-daughters Jennifer and Carrie Spiegel.

Funeral services to be held at Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels (114-03 Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11375) on Monday, December 18th at 12:00 noon. Following the funeral, internment will take place at Mt. Hebron Cemetery (130-04 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, NY 11367).