Mafalda Paula Rantz

Mafalda “Paula” Rantz, 92, most recently of Madison, AL, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2022, after succumbing to late-stage dementia. She was commonly known as Mrs. Paula to some, Paula to others, Aunt Miffy to her nieces and nephews, Mom to her daughter Donna Six (Michael), Grandma to her four devoted grandchildren (Jessica Chenoweth (Glen), Sharon Livingston (Joshua), David Six (Alli), and Stephen Six (Heidi)), and Great-grandma to her 12 great-grandchildren (Aleah Holland (Taylor), Isaiah Chenoweth (Neyah), Isaac Livingston, Ian Livingston, Andrew Livingston, Avery Livingston, Peter Six, Daniel Six, Elijah Six, Collins Six, Charlie Six, and Maeve Six). She also is survived by her one great-great granddaughter, Olive Holland. 

Paula was born as Mafalda Valentino, the seventh surviving child of her two Italian immigrant parents, Domenico and Pauline Valentino. She was born on September 1,1930 and grew up in a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY with her now deceased siblings Virginia Lipari(Victor), Genarro (or Jerry) Valentino (Kate), Mario Valentino, Ida Urciolli (Eugene), Rudy Valentino(Dora), and Gilda Menichetti (Elmer).  Mafalda was orphaned by the age of almost 15 and her siblings kept the house until she graduated from high school.  Upon graduation in 1947, she entered the workforce as a secretary in a brokerage firm on Wall Street.   She met the love of her life, Frederick Charles Rantz at a YMCA dance and after a 6- month courtship, they married in 1953. 

After their daughter Donna was born in 1956, Paula stayed at home to care for her. They moved to Staten Island in 1959 where Fred began a teaching career at Curtis High School.  Paula remained at home until Fred’s teacher’s union went on strike for several months in 1968, and she returned to the workforce as a legal secretary in a large Manhattan law firm. She worked steadily there for 44 years from 1968-2012, becoming somewhat of an institution there at Patterson, Belknap, Webb, and Tyler.  Paula finally retired to care for Fred who was then ailing. Fred passed away in 2013 of complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Paula remained living alone in her home on Pacific Avenue on Staten Island, until Donna and Michael moved her to live with them in their home in Madison, Alabama in 2017.

Paula especially thrived living in Madison, AL often visited by her exuberant great- grandchildren to the delight of her adult grandchildren who really wanted them to know her, as they did growing up.  But the highlight of her life occurred when she was drawn by the Holy Spirit to experience the transforming love of Jesus Christ. In the summer of 2018 Paula, Donna, and Jessica decided to meet weekly to study Scripture together using Beth Moore’s Quest Bible Study/journal workbook.  The subtitle of the book is called” An Excursion Toward Intimacy with God.” Paula had never been very open about sharing her emotions and marveled to discover that God welcomed her questions and cared deeply for her. He even wanted to have a close personal relationship with her.  As these three women studied God’s Word together, His love broke through such barriers as fear, worry, ignorance, and unbelief in Paula’s heart that had isolated and alienated her from God and her family members, who loved her and wanted to be close to her.   As they studied and shared together over the weeks, the light of truths learned from God’s Word shined into Paula’s heart so that she accepted Jesus’ invitation to come to know God the Father personally through Jesus and to receive the gift of eternal life. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John14:6) “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). We miss her now so terribly, but await the joy of being reunited in heaven one day. 

There will be visitation for Mafalda Paula Rantz on Friday, December 2nd from 4pm-7pm at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home.

The life celebration service for Paula will be on Saturday, December 3rd at 10:30am at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Huntsville Memory Gardens.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mafalda Paula Rantz's memory to the UAB Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund, UAB Gift Records, AB1230,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL,35294.