Rose Matejczyk, 95, of 226 Ross Avenue, Cambridge Springs, Pa. died on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, in Seville, Ohio.
She met her late husband Blair Matejczyk as a teenager while constructing a makeshift clay tennis court with friends in the coal mining town of Barnesboro, Pa. The two married on July 3, 1948, in Barnesboro, PA. Her husband passed in 2004.
Mrs. Matejczyk experienced several significant events in her life. As a first grader in 1922, she witnessed the sadness of one of the nation’s worst mine disasters when dozens of her young classmates lost family members in the Reilly Mine Disaster. The child of a coal miner, her parents were dedicated to the education of their only daughter. She was a graduate of Spangler High School, PA, and a proud alumnus of Seton Hill College in Greensburg, PA.
In 1937, she voted in her first Presidential election and never missed voting in the decades of elections that would follow. In 1938, she began a teaching career that would span over four decades, teaching mathematics and science. Her first position was at St. Joseph Academy in Rocky River, Ohio. She interrupted her career during World War II, joining the war efforts in the engineering department of Western Electric in Baltimore, Maryland. For her work on the nation’s first radar system, Mrs. Matejczyk and her co-workers were awarded the Army Navy E Pin, which recognized civilians for exemplary efforts. She fondly remembered that General MacArthur’s wife made the presentation. After her marriage in 1948, she began a lengthy teaching career in Crawford County, PA, with decades of service to the former Townville (Maplewood) High School. She was the recipient of awards from the district, local and state education associations.
Mrs. Matejczyk and her husband, a long time professor at Alliance College, considered the students of Alliance as family. In 1983, she was the recipient of the Kujawiaki Mom Award. In 2007, the Alliance Alumni Association awarded her a Distinguished Service Award.
She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Cambridge Springs, PA, and the Catholic Daughters of America. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she was known for her infectious smile, humor and wit.
Preceding Rose in death were her parents – Edward Gleason and Mary Tubridy Gleason, and her husband – Blair Matejczyk. She is survived by five children – Dr. Mary Blair Matejczyk of Cleveland, Ohio; teacher Judith Matejczyk of Leander, Texas; Major (Ret.) John “Jack” Matejczyk and Shannon Zwaan of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Dr. Daniel Matejczyk of West Hills, California; Attorney David Matejczyk and his wife, Glenna Roberts of Seville, Ohio; seven grandchildren – Jill, Jody, Julie, Alexandra, Danny, Jack, and Shelby; a great-grandson – David; a special sister-in-law – Rose Matejczyk of Northern Cambria, PA; a special brother-in-law – Leonard Mathey of McClean, Virginia; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral in Cambridge Springs on Sunday, September 18, 2011, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Vigil prayer services will be held there at 8:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Cambridge Springs. Father David Poulson will officiate. Interment will be at Cambridge Springs Cemetery.
Donations in Rose’s memory may be made to her favorite charity, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern PA, 1507 Grimm Drive, Erie, PA, 16501.
Dear Matejczyks, I want to thank your mother and father and you David for being such great neighbors to our family when we lived in Cambridge Springs. Our girls Beth and Mary still remember Rose and Blair even though they left at 5 years old, 22 years ago. Your parents were just about the first people that found out that we had twins and I had to bring a picture to Rose to prove that I wasn’t kidding her. Rose was so kind and encourging to our girls. All our love and sincerest sympathys to your family. Pat and Kathy Theobal
Sorry to hear about Rose. She was the designated matriarch of Ross Avenue and in all honesty I think she kept Renee and I out of a lot of trouble. It was in the days of when if your parents weren’t home…the Matejczks were . We have fond memories of the street lights coming on and her familiar voice calling from the porch…Judy, Jackie, Danny, David…time to come home. She made some great meatloaf too. God bless her!!
Lisa
To Dave and the entire Matejczyk family
I’m so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. She was a great lady. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. You all have my deepest sympathies.
Harriet (Pilarczyk) Dine
Dear Dan and Siblings,
I was so sorry to hear, only this morning, of your mother’s passing. There are very few people I have known in my life whom I have respected as much as your parents. They were truly a joy to be around. While I know it is a number of years now since your father passed-on, I cannot think of one without thinking of the other. What a wonderful example of a loving marriage. I know that your hearts are saddened by your loss, but I hope it brings some small comfort to you to know that your parents were loved and respected by many.
On behalf of all of the Christie’s, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dan and Rhonda Christie
I have fond memories of your mother as a very caring neighbor.Even as I have grown up and moved she always remembered me if I passed by.And she would always make a point to ask about my mother too.Her kindness will be missed.
Take care,
Sara Ball-Hughes
We will all miss Aunt Rose. She was a remarkable person.
Dear Dave, Danny, Jack, Mary Blair and Judy:
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Kathleen has enjoyed her phone conversations with Rose over the years. Tim text messaged the family when he heard the news. Your parents are a wonderful part of our memories in Cambridge Springs. Our prayers are with you.
Jon (Brion)
Dear Dan and Family,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of your mom. I valued the few but precious times I would see your parents in Cambridge on a visit home. They were so proud of you and your siblings. Your family always amazed me!
May I share with you a special memory. At our high school graduation your mom was so complimentary of a painting I had on display. She shared with me how it reminded her of the Polish Folk Art of Wycinanki Paper Cutouts. Later she showed me some examples. They were beautiful. I still have my feeble attempts at this skill and they bring to mind your mom. Great memories!
God’s Peace and Grace be with you.
In Christ’s Love,
Barbara
Dear Mary Blair and family,
We are saddened to learn of your mom’s passing. May your memories give you comfort and ease the pain.
Love, Arnie and Cindy
Dear Dave, Danny, Jack, Mary Blair and Judy:
Please accept our condolences on the passing of your mom. Both she and Blair were super people. Joan and I will always remember and cherish the times which we had with them and your guys. Both of them are great examples of lives well lived. The proof of that is the five of you. We will never forget the back deck on Ross Avenue. Take comfort in the fact that their journey here is over and they now reside in the relms of light perpetual.
Don and Joan Lindenmoyer
Dr. Matejczyk and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. May God be with you during these difficult days. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
P.S. We miss you at work!
Love,
Dawn & Dan Sell
Mary,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss.Keep God in your heart.I’ll see as soon as I can.
Sincerly.Mike C.
My husband and I wish to express our condolences on the passing of your mother. Having just lost mommy I cannot put into words how sad I am. She was a wonderful person and I know my parents valued her, and Blair, as dear friends. I remember as a child how much fun we used to have on New Year’s Eve with the parties. We would go sled riding for hours down the college hill, and then make so much noise at midnight with pots and pans.
Sandra Jenkins Stevenson
Hi guys,
Your Mom was a wonderful lady who I enjoyed being with. Stevie and I are very sorry for your loss. She had a great life and great kids.
Stevie and Pepsi Right
Dear Judy and family,
Deepest sympathies to all of you at this difficult time. I will treasure the memories I have of being at your home on Ross Avenue and always being welcomed by your Mom.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Nancy
Dear Dave, Glenna, Mary Blair, Daniel and rest of the family,
Your spanish family sends you our kindest thoughts and want you to know that we feel very happy that we had the opportunity to meet your mother. Specially Manfred remenbers the ocasion when she commented on his “Emma’s face-hit” playing ball in your backyard of Seville. She was great!
Big hug to all of you!!
Hi MaryBlair and David and Susan and Danny and Jackie (does that include all of you? How much fun it was to get to know you all and your mother and dad during our early years in Oil City ! I remember being startled when Aunt Rose scattered the crumbs from the table on the kitchen floor saying there would just be more later (when they would sweep them up.) Mary Blair was old enough to start waitressing somewhere – little did we know she would become a well-known surgeon ! All the rest of you have done well too, serving humanity in your own special ways. You are true products of your mother and father) ‘s family. I’m proud to know all of you and to bear the name Matejczyk with you.
Please accept our deepest sympathy. I hope the wonderful memories you all have will warm your hearts and put a smile on your faces. I have fond memories of your family and Cambridge Springs.
In friendship and sympathy,
Diane and Dave Potter
To Rose’s family,
My mother, Ruth Fleming, wishes to send her deepest sympathy. I am in FL right now visiting with her for a few weeks. She lives with my sister Dian. We have such fond memories of Rose and Blair… and Aunt Flo… and picnics in the summer with all the McCombie boys.
Please accept my condolences,
Susan Bardeen
To Mouse and the entire Matejczyk family — I’m very sorry about your mom’s passing. She was a very sweet lady and always had a smile on her face.
I’ll miss seeing her around the Cambridge Springs area and think of your family every time I walk or drive by Ross Avenue.
My condolences to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Patty (Pankul) Glenn
Our thoughts and prays are with your family during this difficult time. Peace be with you knowing your mother is at peace and with your father.
I had the pleasure of having Mrs. Matejczk in ninth grade for Algebra 1 at the former Townville High School. She was very kind and patient, and as Math was and always will be something that I dislike, having her for a teacher made it more bearable. I know she touched many young lives over the course of her teaching career and I hope that you find comfort in knowing that. Even though I had her only one year, I will always remember her very fondly.
With sincere sympathy to you in this time of loss,
Patti Baxter (former student)
Dear Dr Mary-Blair Matejczyk,
You are in my thoughts at this sad time.Your mother certainly led a full and interesting life. I know she will be sadly missed.
Marge
Dave and Family,
We are very sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Mick & Barb Simmons
Middletown, PA
Dave and Glenna,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
With Love,
Dave and Family,
So sorry for your loss. Your Mom lived a great life and was a wonderful person. She will always be remembered for her smile and infectious laugh. She was so good to my Dad. So now we have three angels watching us. We will forever remember Rose Matejczyk #1.