Our beautiful mother, Cheryl Anne Marz-Perl (formerly Rodriguez) 81, went peacefully home to be with our Lord on February 12, 2026. She joins her parents, Blaine Heiber Marz and Dorothy Elizabeth (Moeller) Marz and her husband, Roy E. Perl in eternal rest.

We would be honored if friends and family would join us to celebrate the joy and grace of Cheryl's life. Visitation will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at the Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home at 3227 Ridge Rd. in Lansing, Illinois from 3 to 7 pm.  A private family funeral service will be held Friday at 10 am in the funeral home chapel.

Cheryl loved her Kentucky home in Covington where she was born at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital on December 27, 1944. The oldest of four children, Cheryl welcomed her siblings Susan Marie (Braasch), Phyllis Jean (Burke) And Stephen Blaine to the family. She eventually settled in Lansing, Illinois.

Cheryl graduated from TF South High School and went on to major in journalism at Saint Joseph's Calumet College, where she became editor of the school newspaper. Cheryl's many endeavors and accomplishments, including raising her family,  were volunteering as a room mom, as a Friday hot dog lunch lady, volunteering for field trips (Butterfly bag!) as a Girl and Boy Scout leader and as a music lady at the elementary schools. She was employed at Illinois Bell Telephone Company, at Coolidge Elementary School as a Resource Center Library Assistant, at Schneider Tank Lines and finally, as a devout Catholic she found her most rewarding career as office manager/secretary at Our Lady of Knock Church in Calumet City, Illinois. There she utilized her true passion in serving Christ as a CCD teacher and created the 10 Commandment bingo game to help students learn the 10 Commandments. She continued to serve her faith as a communion minister, as a RCIA facilitator and also blessed us all with her beautiful voice in the Our Lady Of Knock guitar group choir.

Cheryl made holidays so special. She especially loved the Christmas season and shared with us her love of angels, the Nativity under the tree, the traditions of Advent, St. Nicholas Day socks, the magic of Santa and always remembering a birthday cake for baby Jesus.

Our Mom built a legacy through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her children, David and Wendy (West) Rodriguez, Elizabeth (Rodriguez) and JD Long, Michael and Jamie (Karasek) Rodriguez and Jon Rodriguez and Carol Cademartori will honor that legacy. Her grandchildren, Jim (Amber), Josh (Kateland), Jake (Alyssa), Jillian (Cole), JT (Lauren), Alyssa (Kelden), Madeleine, Julianne, Justin, Alex, Nick (Sophia), Bella and Amanda (Bret) will treasure and pass their memories on to her great grandchildren; Seth, Ryan, Ruth, JP, Wesley Duke, Betsy, and all the other great grands to come that she's now cradling until their time. Many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers in law, dear friends, caretakers and all who loved and admired her, will carry her kind nature with them always.

Ms Cheryl spent her last years at the Aviva Memory Care Facility singing, dancing, smiling, and being lovingly cared for with dignity and respect by the many wonderful CNA's, nurses, cooks, support and activities staff, volunteers, and by the compassionate team from Transitions Hospice. With special love from volunteers Jennifer and Nancy. Of course there were no favorites, but Ms Cheryl may have been theirs.

Cheryl or "Perl" as she was fondly known, had a very special bond with her chosen daughter, Autumn, whom she adored like her own.

Mom will forever be remembered for her kindness, her faith and her love of family. Cheryl loved flowers, animals (especially cats) and ensuring dignity in all stages of life.

In lieu of flowers, it would be lovely to honor Cheryl's life through support of the Aviva Memory Care Facility in Merrillville, Transitions Hospice, Treasured Friends or the Alzheimer's Association.

This lovely lady touched all who knew her. We are better for knowing her and she is forever in our hearts