October 28, 1923 - March 1, 2024
Evelyn (Hill) Matthison, age 100, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Kingsway Nursing Home in St Marys.
Born in Downie Township on October 28, 1923, daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Armstrong) Hill. Predeceased by her loving husband of 52 years Jack Matthison (October 21, 1998).
Evelyn was the loving mother of Murray Matthison (Darlene), Reg Matthison, Louise Monteith (Brian), and Ross Matthison. She was a loving Grandmother to Chris Matthison (Kevin), Colin Matthison (Kelly), Carrie de Graaf, Erin Richardson (Jason), Greg Matthison, Ashley Matthison, Curtis Monteith (Lisa), Vanessa Monteith, and Ryan Monteith (Shannon). Loving Great-Grandmother to Micah, Naomi, Ethan, Chloe, Ella, Casen, Maddie, Jack, Kyle, Avery, Jake, Jack, Kate, Claire, Grace, Connor, Emma, Aidan, Jacob, and Sophie. Evelyn is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins in Canada and England. She is predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law Bill and June Hill, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dorothy and Peter Sawatsky, in-laws Bert and Emily Matthison, and her daughter-in-law Lynn Matthison, and special family friend Mary Ann Huggett.
Evelyn married the love of her life Jack Matthison on May 11, 1946. With their love of music Jack & Evelyn volunteered their time to entertain at area nursing homes and community activities over the years and enjoyed dancing at area dance halls with friends.
Evelyn was a member of the Avonton Presbyterian Church and a Charter Member of the Evening Auxiliary at the Avonton Church. She was also a Life Member of the Avonton Women’s Institute. While living in St. Marys, Evelyn became a member of the St. Marys Friendship Center Choir and Dance Group. After being diagnosed with cancer in 1998, Evelyn participated in the Cancer Relay for Life in Stratford for several years, and the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat Races in 2000 as a breast cancer survivor. Evelyn always carried a deck of cards with her and was ready to play a game of euchre, crib, or any other card game. She also enjoyed playing Crokinole and Scrabble. She loved cooking, baking, gardening, quilting, knitting and shared those skills with her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She enjoyed her time with family and friends at the cottage in Grand Bend where many games of cards were played, beautiful sunsets watched, and family games of mini golf played.
Jack & Evelyn raised their family at Fair Acres Farm in Downie Township, moving to St. Marys in 1980, then to Avonton in 1983. She moved to Hamlet Estates in Stratford in 2006 and Kingsway Lodge in St. Marys in 2019.
Evelyn’s family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Kingsway Lodge in St. Marys for your wonderful care and compassion over the last years. She loved going to all the programs while she was able, especially anything to do with music.
Friends and relatives are invited to Evelyn’s visitation on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 5:00 -8:00 p.m. at the W. G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron St Stratford. And on Thursday March 7, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Evelyn’s funeral service at 11:00 a.m. As expressions of sympathy memorial donations may be made to Kingsway Lodge Resident Activity or To Avonton Presbyterian Church through the funeral home. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
