Marita B. Mattei's Obituary
Marita passed away the afternoon of January 5, 2021, her family surrounding her with love.
She is survived by brothers Christopher Barnes and Frank Wilczynski and family, children Edamarie, Tory and Nanette Mattei, son-in-law Kris Colby, daughter-in-law Christine Mattei, and grandchildren Kiernan, Tolly and Desmond Colby and Christian, Lindsey and Andrew Mattei and loving nieces and nephews.
One of her grandchildren described what it was like to be with Marita this way: ‘No matter how annoying you could be, Marmee (as she was known to her grandchildren) would never consider you lesser than anyone, or a pest. She liked to invite troublesome people into her heart because she had the natural gift of unconditional love and sympathy. She dedicated her life to understanding everyone because no one was unworthy of love to Marmee.’
Marita was a Jersey Girl to her core. She grew up at the edge of the woods in Clementon, NJ and learned to love trees and nature playing in the forest. Her father awakened her every morning singing ‘What a beautiful morning, what a beautiful day’ up the stairs to her bedroom. Her grandmother, aunts and uncles treasured and supported her, buying different pieces of her Easter outfit when her parents couldn’t afford to, taking her to ball games and the theater. She learned to love art and fine furniture through her father whose business was restoring antiques, and to volunteer in the community and help others through her mom.
Marita is a graduate of Camden Catholic High School (1956). In a generation when many women didn’t go to college, let alone graduate school, Marita was the first person in her family to do both. She graduated from The College of Notre Dame (1960), the first Catholic college for women, and Rutgers University School of Social Work.
She met her husband, Vic (married April 4, 1964) at a dance and immediately knew he was the right person for her because ‘he was my exact opposite’. In her marriage and her life, Marita knew the strength that came from diversity and modeled the values of compromise and inclusion in her schools, communities and personal relationships.
Marita worked as a school social worker in Cinnaminson for 20 years. When she and her fellow social worker Jane Weilenbeck found that many families were struggling financially and needed support, Marita and Jane began organizing donations of food and clothing for these families. As financial donations began to come in, Marita and Jane opened a bank account and when Jane died of cancer, Marita named the fund in honor of Jane. That fund is still active today. Marita’s door was always open to students and she touched hundreds of lives. Even in retirement, she would be stopped frequently in Cinnaminson and thanked by people whose families she had helped through difficult times.
Marita was an active member of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, and treasured time with her family, high school and college friends, her neighbors and her friends in Sewing Circle, The Famous Club, and the Romeo’s and Juliet’s.
Her children remember a house that was always full of their friends who came to play, often spending as much time talking with their mother as with them. She made everyone welcome and comfortable and, for many, helped them get through the toughest moments of their lives.
Marita will be remembered for being fully engaged with the people in her life, for her selflessness, her compassion, her understanding, her tolerance and strength. Above all, Marita built her world around making connections, understanding others, and helping those around her. Her gifts of love and presence live on in all the lives she has touched.
Up in heaven, Saint Anthony is taking a well-earned nap, knowing Marita is at peace with no more keys to lose. Toodle loo, Marmee. We love you and letting you go is so hard.
DONATIONS- In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Jane B. Weilenbeck Needy Family Fund. Donations can be made via Venmo: @JBW-Fund, or by check to the Jane B. Weilenbeck Needy Family Fund, Memorial School, 2195 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Edamarie, Nanette and Tory hope that friends and family will join them in a party to celebrate Marita’s life after COVID restrictions are no longer needed. We will share details about the event in the future.
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