Lorenza Alvina Goetz

Lorenza Alvina Mataya Goetz, a beloved wife, mother, stepmother, Mawmaw, Nonnie, sister, entrepreneur, and woman of remarkable strength and confidence, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 07, 2026, at the age of 75.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Lorenza will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Chaplain Les Riggs.

She endured a long battle with cancer, fighting with the same strength and determination that carried her through every challenge in her life. Although she was blessed to beat cancer, the battle left lasting effects on her health and took a physical toll over the years. Despite her health challenges, she never allowed the illness to define who she was. Her heart remained focused on the people and things she loved most: her children, her grandchildren, her family, and finding beauty and joy wherever she could.

She lived a life filled with determination, love, hard work, and an appreciation for the beauty found in everyday moments. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, she carried the spirit, culture, and resilience of her hometown throughout her life. Later, she relocated to Benton, Louisiana, where she raised her family and built the life that became her greatest joy and accomplishment. For 35 years, she was married to the love of her life, Richard Joseph Goetz Sr. Together, they built a successful horse transportation business and a life centered around family, perseverance, and the belief that anything worth having was worth working for.

She was a successful entrepreneur, but one of the places where she truly came alive was in the kitchen. When she owned and operated her restaurants, her confidence and natural warmth seemed to blossom. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and cared for. Her food nourished the body, but her hospitality warmed the spirit. Her patrons remembered her and the experience she created so fondly that after her retirement, everyone continually asked when she would open another restaurant, a lasting testament to the impression she made on those around her.

Yet, of all her accomplishments, her greatest joy was children.

She was a devoted mother and Nonnie who found her deepest happiness in the love of her family. She was the proud mother of three children and cherished every opportunity to be surrounded by the children and grandchildren she loved so dearly. Her family was her greatest accomplishment, and the love she poured into them will continue to live on through generations.

She had a natural eye for beauty and found happiness in creating and nurturing it. She loved shopping, sewing, and gardening, always finding something beautiful wherever she looked. Whether she was tending to a garden, creating something with her hands, preparing a meal, or simply spending time with her family, she had a remarkable ability to find joy in the little things.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Joseph Goetz; her son, Christopher George Goetz; her parents, Monica and Richard Mataya; and her brother, Patrick Mataya.

She leaves behind a family who loved her deeply and whose lives were forever shaped by her love: Monique and Robert Terrebonne, and their children, Coby and Connor Terrebonne; Desiree and Craig Ewald; her stepchildren; and her siblings, Richard Mataya III, Gayle Laris, Kathleen Krass, Armand Mataya, Yolanda Laris, Juan Oliva, Michael Oliva, and Alexander Oliva.

Among her family, she had a particularly special bond with Alexander Oliva, who was far more than a brother. To her, he was like a son, and she loved Kaylee as though she were one of her own grandchildren, and that bond was deeply cherished. Her godchild, Chrissy Comeaux, and her family also held a special place in her heart, and she treasured their relationship deeply.

She leaves behind not only memories but also pieces of herself in everyone she loved. Her strength, confidence, generosity, creativity, and love for children will continue to be carried forward by her family.

She built businesses, welcomed strangers to her table, created beauty with her hands, and devoted her heart to her family. But her greatest legacy was not what she built or what she accomplished. It was the love she gave.

She will be remembered in the laughter of children, the warmth of a family gathered around a table, the beauty of a garden, the comfort of a home, and in every act of love that carries her spirit forward.

She was deeply loved. She will be deeply missed. And she will remain forever in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to call her Mom, Mawmaw, Nonnie, Sister, Aunt, and Friend.

Her greatest joy was children. Her greatest accomplishment was her family. Her greatest legacy is the love she left behind.

Honoring Lorenza as pallbearers will be Coby Terrebonne, Connor Terrebonne, Robert Terrebonne, Craig Ewald, Richard Mataya III, and Alexander Oliva.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in her memory at www.stjude.org. Lorenza loved flowers and children dearly, and either gesture would be a beautiful way to honor her life and the love she shared with others.