Rosemary A. Matthews
12/10/1922 - 04/28/2017

Rosemary Agnes Matthews, 94, passed away on April 28, 2017 in Morristown, NJ.

Born and raised in Queens, NY she was the third of four daughters born to James and Margaret Flaherty. Rosemary was a graduate of Jamaica HS and met the love of her life, Donald Matthews, her first day at Queens College. Her college career was interrupted by WWII when she proudly served in the Navy. After the war Rosemary married Donald during the historic “blizzard of 1947”. They raised their family of seven children in Westbury and later, Stony Brook, NY. After her youngest child started school, Rosemary went back to complete her undergraduate education at Queens College and subsequently earned a Master’s degree from SUNY at Stony Brook. She then taught elementary school at the Three Village School District in Stony Brook, NY where she developed and implemented a program for academically talented students.

After retirement from their respective teaching careers, Rosemary and Don relocated to Chestertown, NY and spent winters in Alabama and Florida. After her beloved husband passed away, Rosemary resided full-time near Tampa, Florida where she was active in her community association. She subsequently moved to Hamilton, OH and later to Morristown, NJ.

Rosemary’s hobbies included teaching bridge to her fellow retirees and oil painting, which she discovered she had a talent for at age 70. Rosemary had a lifelong passion for current events. She had a special interest in social justice issues and loved engaging in fiery debates.

Rosemary will be remembered for her intelligence, tenacity, independence and above all, her devotion to her family. She cherished times spent with her husband and all her children especially the sharing of family stories, “pie at midnight”, and family camping trips in the Adirondacks. She delighted in the achievements of her children and grandchildren and was overjoyed at the arrival of her first great grandchild just one month ago. Rosemary will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Rosemary was predeceased by her husband Donald; sisters, Margaret Kelley and Mary Bender. She is survived by her sister, Joan Conway of Chestertown, NY; her children, Donna McCall and her husband Mike, of Annandale, NJ, Jim Matthews and his wife Teresa of Ft Mill, SC, Rose Stuker and her husband Rich of Chinook, MT, Kevin Matthews and his wife Fran, of Holt, MI, Alice Matthews of Mequon, WI, Maureen Kroeger and her husband Jack, of New Providence, NJ and Megan Lewis and her husband Tim, of Middletown, Ohio; her grandchildren, Elizabeth and Donald John Stuker, Ryan, Megan and Matthew Dwyer, Jackie Kroeger Donovan, Sean, Caitie and Kyle Kroeger, Kai McCall, Erin Halloran, and Grace Matthews; great grandchild, Jane Lola Dwyer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on, Sunday, May 7, 2017 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at William A. Bradley and Son Funeral Home 345 Main Street, Chatham, NJ 07928. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 91 Maple Avenue in Morristown, NJ on, Monday, May 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newton. PA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.


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