Cover photo for Digna Chapman's Obituary
Digna Chapman Profile Photo
1934 Digna 2022

Digna Chapman

August 7, 1934 — February 1, 2022

Hyattsville

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Digna Celeste Mendez Lazala (Chapman) was born on August 7th, 1934, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to the late Angel Mendez and Luz Lazala de Mendez. She was the eldest of five children. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Angel Mendez, Rafael Mendez, Hugo Mendez and survived by her sister Eva Mendez, who resides in Long Island, New York.

Digna migrated to the United States to join her then husband, the Late Carlos Chapman Gonzalez in Washington, DC on April 6, 1966, along with her infant son, Carlos (Carlito), and daughter Arelis, aged 8.  Three years later, she gave birth to her youngest daughter Luz (Lucy). Arriving in the U.S. Digna spoke only Spanish but learned to speak English proficiently. Digna was a very hardworking woman and at one time she held three jobs in order to sustain her family. Raising her children well, she taught them importance of education, hard work and being able to establish their independence.

She was a dedicated and respected daycare teacher for United Planning Organization, where she retired after 20 plus years of passionate service. Among several accomplishments she learned sign language while working with the hearing impaired and volunteered at La Comunidad de Habla Hispana de Hyattsville.

As a woman of service, she dedicated her life to those in need. Often providing meals within her community and her neighbors, consistently sending care packages to her native Dominican Republic and providing nonperishables to non-profits in her community.

Having a passion for cooking, she always looked forward to her family joining her, so they could fellowship together. Some of her well-known dishes were: arroz con guandules,  sancocho, cosido de vaca, broccoli de casserole, and her popular virgin pina colada. Digna enjoyed and took great care and pride of her home. Being a neat person, she was a clean fanatic. Her love for gardening often won the praises of those in her community. Having a very bubbly personality with a great sense of humor, no one could feel down in her presence.

Digna was a devoted Catholic and attended church regularly, maintaining her strong faith in God. Each day she chose to be happy, she was energetic, generous, artistic, optimistic, faithful, and gracious. Digna was very fashionable and enjoying the finest scents, her favorite perfume was Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion.

She's also survived by her son Carlos Chapman (Renee) and two daughters, Arelis Perez  and Luz Chapman-Canela, five grandchildren; Aldo Santiesteban, III, Ana Santiesteban-  Monzon, Juan Canela, Giovanni Canela and Cristian Canela; and two great grandchildren  Isabel Santiesteban and Aldo Santiesteban, IV.

‌“El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación; ¿A quién temeré?
El Señor es la fuerza de mi vida; de quién tendré miedo? Salmo 27:1


Digna Celeste Mendez Lazala (Chapman) nació el 7 de Agosto de 1934 en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, hija de Ángel Méndez y Luz Lazala de Méndez. Era la mayor de cinco hermanos. Le precedieron en la muerte sus hermanos: Ángel Méndez, Rafael Méndez, Hugo Méndez y le sobrevivió su hermana Eva Méndez, que reside en Long Island, Nueva York.

Digna emigró a los Estados Unidos para reunirse con su entonces esposo, el difunto Carlos Chapman González en Washington, DC el 6 de abril de 1966, junto con su hijo pequeño, Carlos (Carlito), y su hija Arelis, de 8 años. Tres años más tarde, dio a luz a su hija menor Luz (Lucy). Al llegar a los Estados Unidos, Digna solo hablaba español, pero aprendió a hablar inglés de manera competente. Digna era una mujer muy trabajadora y en un momento tuvo tres trabajos para mantener a su familia. Criando bien a sus hijos, les enseñó la importancia de la educación, el trabajo duro y la capacidad de establecer su independencia.

Fue una maestra de guardería dedicada y respetada para United Planning Organization, donde se retiró después de más de 20 años de servicio apasionado. Entre varios logros, aprendió el lenguaje de señas mientras trabajaba con personas con discapacidad auditiva y se ofreció como voluntaria en La Comunidad de Habla Hispana en Hyattsville.

Como mujer de servicio, dedicó su vida a los necesitados. A menudo proporcionando comidas dentro de su comunidad y sus vecinos, enviando constantemente paquetes de atención a su natal República Dominicana y proporcionando productos no perecederos a organizaciones sin fines de lucro en su comunidad. Con una pasión por la cocina, siempre esperaba que su familia se reuniera con ella, para que pudieran compartir juntos. Algunos de sus platos más conocidos fueron: arroz con guandules, sancocho, cosido de vaca, brócoli de cazuela y su popular piña colada virgen. Digna disfrutaba cuidaba mucho y se enorgullecía de su hogar. Siendo una persona ordenada, era una fanática de la limpieza. Su amor por la jardinería a menudo ganaba la admiración de aquellos en su comunidad. Al tener una personalidad muy burbujeante con un gran sentido del humor, nadie podía sentirse mal o estar deprimido en su presencia.

Digna era una católica devota y asistía a la iglesia regularmente, manteniendo su fuerte fe en Dios. Ella elejia ser feliz cada dia, era enérgica, generosa, artística, optimista, fiel y amable. Digna estaba muy a la moda y disfrutando de los mejores aromas, su perfume favorito era Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion.

También le sobrevive su hijo Carlos Chapman (Renee) y dos hijas, Arelis Perez y Luz Chapman-Canela cinco nietos; Aldo Santiesteban, III, Ana Santiesteban- Monzon, Juan Canela, Giovanni Canela y Cristian Canela; y dos bisnietos Isabel Santiesteban y Aldo Santiesteban, IV.

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

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