Denine Tahbaz

Services for Denine Tahbaz, 22, a student and athlete at Missouri Southern State Univercity, who died February 27 after suffering complications from a tumor, will be held 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, at St. John Fisher Catholic Church, Rancho Palos Verde, California.

Services are under the direction of Green Hills Mortuary, Rancho Palos Verde.

Denine was a native of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and spent three years on the soccer team at Missouri Southern after transferring from Golden West (California) College.

This year, Denine played in 15 matches with three starts, recording four shots. In her career, she saw action in 32 matches with eight starts.

Denine was the daughter of Michael and Liz Tahbaz and has two younger brothers. She was a geography major at Southern.

A candlelight vigil to celebrate Denise's life was held March 3 on the Missouri Southern State University campus, with another one held March 5 by the MSSU Athletic Department.

In a statement released shortly after Denine's death, Missouri Southern President Alan Marble said, "She was a dedicated student who brought joy to everyone around her."