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Monday, October 1, 2018
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Greg Morin posted a condolence
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Kevin asked me to post the text of my remembrance from the service:
Thanks to all who attended, snet their best wishes and their prayers.
Greg
Thank you to all for coming today. It means a lot to me and my family that you came out to say goodbye.
Mildred Matte (I’m going to call her Nana from now on) was born in Troy NY over 102 years ago. She grew up in Troy and met my grandfather, Ernie, there. They moved to Massachusetts - first in Wakefield, and then settling just around the corner on Burton Road in Burlington. They had two children, Margaret, my mom, and John. She has two grandchildren - myself and my sister Cheryl, and two great grandchildren, Cheryl’s daughters - Sarah and Rachel.
I’d like to talk about Nana as I knew her.
I know I’ll be leaving out a lot. There were stories that I’ve heard over the years. Mainly they centered around my grandfather, who was quite a character, with Nana in the background as the steadying influence. I know I’d mix up the dates and names, so I’ll leave the rest of you to tell them after the service - but there was one constant running throughout all of them. They had a great collection of friends and family. I should mention those of you who were their neighbors from Wakefield, from my dad’s neighborhood in Beverly, and especially the group on Burton Road. It was clear from speaking with Nana over the years that you were truly her second family.
I asked John for an anecdote that might reveal a little something of Nana before I knew her. He told a story that I hadn’t heard before. My grandparents and John were visiting the Aline’s at their place on Lake Winnepesaukee. John and Kim, who were about 12 at the time, went out in the canoe before church and lost track of time. Eventually they came back (after church) to find everyone waiting for them, and kind of upset. Grampa saw this as an opportunity to critique their rowing technique, got in the canoe, still wearing this suit from church, and proceeded to stand up in the back, paddled it around with one oar, showing off. He got back to the dock, but slipped getting out of the canoe & fell into the lake. John & Kim spent the next hour diving to the bottom to retrieve his wallet, keys, and glasses. John knew he was facing the prospect of the next 4 hours in the back of the car with Nana upset with him. So he asked meekly, “Mom are you upset because we went out in the canoe?”. “Yes.” Then he asked: “Mom are you upset that we missed church?” “Yes”. Finally, he asked, “Mom, are you upset that dad ruined his suit”, Nana said, “No, that was the funniest thing I ever saw”.
As I was growing up, I knew Nana as a typical grandmother. We had the usual grandmother/grandson relationship. Cheryl and I would visit often, and sometimes stay over on a Saturday night or a weekend. Spending the night at Nana’s as a child was always something we looked forward to. Sleepovers at Nana’s always meant ice cream, games of uno, and trips to the zoo after church on a Sunday morning if the weather cooperated. Some of my favorite memories are going to the Burlington 4th of July parade and holiday gatherings. Nana always incorporated everyone’s favorites in every holiday meal. I know many of you will remember getting a Filene’s shirt box full of her Christmas cookies, 3 layers, with wax paper in between. She got the cookie recipe perfect every time. Nobody else in our family was ever able to duplicate it. Cheryl and the girls apparently are getting close, but can’t quite get it right.
Nana loved to take Cheryl shopping for fancy dresses that were lacy and itchy but made her feel like a little princess. She taught us the proper way to make a bed, set a table and say the rosary.
You never know someone well until you see how they handle adversity. Nana had some difficult times. Of course I didn’t pick up on this much because I was only 13 at the time, but when my mom passed away suddenly, I think Nana might have been hurt more than anyone else. I came to understand that later on, but at the time, she was very strong for all of us. Nana and my Grampa came to Beverly every Thursday afternoon after school to help out my dad (and probably to make sure that we were getting some vegetables). It had to be very difficult for her to see all the reminders of my mom around, but Cheryl and I never saw her let it affect her. She really stepped up when we needed her most.
When Cheryl was in college, Nana would always make sure she left her house with a shopping bag full of goodies to share with her roommates. For spending money, Grampa would take her aside and generously (and loudly) give her a nickel. Nana would then, quietly, slip her a twenty dollar bill (out of my father’s sight, of course), saying, “Take it – there must be something you need!”
After I graduated from college, I had a job in Charlestown and I ended up in sharing a house in Wilmington. After I moved in, I asked where the road we were on went to. My new roomate said, oh, it kind of winds along, but you end up on Peach Orchard Road in Burlington. It was then I realized, I was living about 3 miles from Nana and Grampa’s house – kind of by accident. When I mentioned this to Nana, it was NOT ACCEPTABLE if I didn’t stop by once a week or so. It was also made clear to me that stopping by didn’t count unless I had dinner. I had people say it was really nice of me to come by & visit so often, but the thing is, I genuinely liked visiting with them. I was able to see Nana in a new light, not as a child sees his grandmother, but as an adult. I appreciated her perspective and sense of humor.
During that time, I also saw that she was an influence on more than just our small, immediate family. She was “Nana” to my Dad, my stepmother Margaret, and my cousins on my dad’s side; “Aunt Mil” to three generations of nieces and nephews; and eventually “Great-Nana” to Sarah and Rachel.
My life took me to Chicago, but Nana has never been far away from me. She'll always have a lot of influence on my life. We’d talk often. I came back about once a year to visit and once, she, Cheryl and Margaret even came out to check up on me. I think she was 88 at the time.
Before we got married, I took my wife, Pat, to visit Boston. She was nervous… wondering if all of my family would like her. I told her “get in with Nana and everybody else will love you”. That turned out to be good advice, I think. From that day on, Nana would always end her phone calls with me with a “Give Pat a hug and a kiss for me”.
More recently, of course, Nana’s life slowed down a bit – she made it to 102 after all. After my grandfather passed away, she still stayed strong. John would take her on long scenic drives to seek out interesting places to go for lunch. She loved her family and always wanted to hear about everything going on in our lives. She would sit with Cheryl and share stories about our mother over a cup of coffee and a jelly donut. Even in her latest years, she still greeted everyone who entered her house with a warm smile and a cheerful “hello”. I know if was a huge comfort that she was able to remain at home, where she belonged, on Burton Road, thanks to her spirit and with the support of John, her wonderful neighbors and her family.
I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we are all blessed to have had Nana in our lives, and were fortunate to have had her with us for as long as we did.
I thought it would be nice to close with a prayer….
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.
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Irene Allyn posted a condolence
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Matte family. Although I have not seen Millie in a couple years, I will miss her. She was a very good friend of mine when she moved from Troy NY to Greenwood (Wakefield, MA) in a house next to mine. That was 56 years ago. We had stayed in touch over the years and we had many laughs with Earnie and Millie as they have always been good friends of mine. God bless.
Irene Allyn and Family.
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Irene Allyn posted a condolence
Saturday, February 8, 2014
We send our sympathy to the Matte family for the loss of my good friend Millie. She was a dear friend over the years since the days in Greenwood (Wakefield), MA where we both resided for a short time 56 yeas ago. Both Earnie and Millie were wonderful people, great sense of humor always with Earnie and such a wonderful heart in Millie. I will miss Millie and I know that her memory will be always in our minds. God bless.
Irene Allyn & Family
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Cheryl Harrington posted a condolence
Friday, February 7, 2014
May you rest in peace, and my our Lord keep you.
will miss seeing you at the office!
Cheryl @ Burlington Medical Assoc. Woburn Ma.
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mildred matte posted a condolence
Thursday, February 6, 2014
CHERYL,
TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, SORRY TO HEAR OF THE LOSS OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER ..SHE IS NOW AT PEACE AND AMONG HER DEPARTED LOVE ONES... IN OUR THOUGHTS, LOVE CAROL, BOB AND DANIELLE HODGKINS
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Leah Notaro posted a condolence
Thursday, February 6, 2014
My deepest sympathy John to you and your family.
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Pam O'Dell posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Aunt Mildred was one of the most loving and truly kind people I've ever known. She never had a bad word for anyone at anytime, and was just a good person through and through. We spent many Christmas Eves with Aunt Mil and Uncle Ernie, John, Maggie and the O'Dell families, and many days at the shore in Old Orchard Beach. Her spritz butter cookies were the best in the universe, and always will be. The world has lost a beautiful person, and my hopes are for her to be peaceful in death and reunited with those she loved.
Edward V. Sullivan
Funeral Home
43 Winn Street
Burlington, MA 01803
Ph: (781) 272-0050
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