Mary Frances Matthews nee Grech, age 98, passed away September 19, 2025. She resided at Dominion Village Senior Living in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Mary was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 10, 1926, to Calcedonio and Anna (nee Kryza) Grech. After her mother passed away in 1933, she spent her childhood in her father’s native country, Malta, with her paternal grandmother and four aunts. Unfortunately, World War II started before she could return to the United States. She was only able to return after the liberation Malta by Allied Forces in 1944. She traveled with a stop at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, spending an extended time recuperating from the deprivations of the daily bombings by the Germans and Italians and the food scarcities caused by the German naval blockade of the island nation.
After her return to the United States on the S.S. Cullinan, she finished high school and attended the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing. She married Marshall D. Matthews in 1948. They moved numerous times for his career in the U.S. Air Force before finally settling in Yorktown, VA in 1959. Later in life, Mary’s insatiable desire for knowledge led her to complete an AA degree program at TNCC graduating Magna Cum Laude.
She really loved her children and enjoyed cooking, reading, playing the piano, sewing, ceramic crafting, and taking walks, especially along the waterfront of the York River. Her Catholic faith was an important part of her life, guiding her through the trials of WWII.
She is predeceased by her parents and her husband of 70 years.
Her survivors include sons, Dennis (Celeste), Robert (Vicki), Michael (Donna), and daughter Katherine Slade (John). Grandchildren are Colby (Kimberly), Joshua (Jen), Devin (Jennifer), Meaghan (Shawn), Brendan (Melissa), Nicholas (Megan), and Amanda (Chris). There are eight Great-grandchildren; Alliyah, Josh, Isabella, Colin, Joshua II, Olivia, Alexandra, Slade, Emma, and Kalina, one great-great grandchild, Abagale.
Service info will be posted once finalized.
