Evelyn L. Matthews

Evelyn Longwell Matthews, 99, went peacefully to a final rest with her Lord on October 19, 2016, joining loving husband Rowland (Bill) Matthews, who predeceased her on May 23, 2013.
Evelyn was born in Bath, NY on March 6, 1917 to Walter and Stella (Hamilton) Longwell.
Evelyn lived her entire life in Bath, New York, her ancestors being among the original settlers of the Towns of Bath and Urbana.
Her father, Walter, co-founder of the Longwell Lumber Company in Bath, was a leader in the community as a Mayor, Postmaster, and President of the School Board.
Evelyn graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA in 1939, a time when few women pursued college degrees.
This experience instilled in Evelyn a deep respect for education, as well as an abiding belief that women are capable of being contributors to their communities and society as a whole.
In her own life, she pursued a fulfilling career of 25 years with the Steuben County Children's Services, primarily in foster care and adoption services, eventually becoming a supervisor.
She loved her work and took great satisfaction in placing infants with adoptive parents.
Providing children with a supportive, loving family was deeply important to her, as was her belief that women could successfully balance a career and family responsibilities.
Evelyn married Bill Matthews on October 13, 1940 in Hamburg, NY.
They enjoyed seventy-two years together, raising three daughters. Evelyn was an avid reader and a life-long learner, often challenging herself and others to lively word games, card games, Scrabble, and duplicate bridge.
Music played a central role in Evelyn's life.
Her parents sang in the Bath Methodist Church choir, where Evelyn played the organ after many years of piano instruction from a young age.
She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, the American Association of University Women, and the First Presbyterian Church of Bath.
After retiring, Evelyn and Bill spent their winters in Peace River, FL and summers with family at their cottage on Keuka Lake.
Evelyn was very devoted to her family. She is survived by daughters Linda Tetor of Bath, NY; Laurie (Jim) Grimes of North Ridgeville, OH; and Deb (Paul) Picciano of Canton, CT; grandchildren Michael Robinson, Jennifer Haischer; Steve Grimes, Jeff (Erin) Grimes, Joanna (Paul) Bodmann; Erica (Jeff) LeRoy and Alex Picciano; great grandchildren Makayla Haischer, Jillian Bodmann, Nathan Bodmann, and Eleanor Grimes; and niece, Elizabeth (Charles) Houser. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Dr. Harold Longwell, and son-in-law, Robert Tetor.
Calling hours will be held Monday, October 24, 2016 from 9 to 11 am, followed by a Celebration of Life at Fagan's Funeral Home, West Morris Street, Bath, NY. Burial will be in Nondaga Cemetery, Bath. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be made in Evelyn's name to the Steuben Senior Services Fund, Inc., 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810 or the First Presbyterian Church, 6 East Morris Street, Bath NY 14810.


Visitation

9:00 am - 11:00 am Monday, October 24, 2016

Fagan's Inc. Funeral Home
31 West Morris St.
Bath, New York, United States
14810


Funeral Service

11:00 am Monday, October 24, 2016

Fagan's Funeral Home

Bath, New York, United States
14810
Service Time: 11:00 AM


Interment at: Nondaga Cemetery

12:00 pm Monday, October 24, 2016

Nondaga Cemetery
Bath Cemetery Association
Bath, New York, United States
14810