Dessie Frances (Roberts) Matas

Dessie Frances Matas 93, of Malta passed away September 26, 2019 in Malta. She was born October 26, 1925 and was the youngest of four siblings to the late Fred and Dessie Roberts of Deerfield Township in Morganville, Ohio. Dessie relocated to  Newton Falls to help her sister who had married and moved to Newton Falls. It was there in Newton Falls that she met and then married John Matas. She and John raised 12 children and were married 68 years before his passing on August 21, 2011. To her friends  in Newton Falls, she was known as “Fran” or “Frances” and she enjoyed being involved in the activities of her children as they grew  and participated in school activities and sports. Her home was always open to friends of her children and she would always say that they were accepted  as part of the family “ as long as they behaved”. Dessie Frances loved nature and she was an avid gardener who enjoyed canning foods for winter usage by her family. In addition to being a devoted loving mother while raising her children, she was also active in the local community. She was the President of the Newton Falls High School Boosters Club from which she had many memories of serving sandwiches and milk after every home game. In the 1960/1970’s she was a long time member of the Blue Star Mothers Chapter #75. She was the President  of the organization while her sons were in the military. Dessie always had strong roots to southern Ohio where she grew up. Throughout her time in Newton Falls, numerous trips were taken with her family to visit friends and relatives in Malta, Ohio in Deerfield Township. Later, she and John  returned to Malta and retired on their dream farm very close to Dessie’s original homestead. Their farm was their “heaven in the country” where they raised  some beef cattle  and enjoyed the farming as their “laid back” way of life. Of her twelve children, Dessie is survived by three daughters and five sons. Daughters; JoAnn Taylor of Jeromesville, Mary Lou Chern(Mike) of Malta, Judy Kay Abraham(Fred) of Newton Falls. Sons; Edward (Diane) of Newton Falls, James of Hollywood, Florida, Michael (Patricia) of of Newton Falls, Andrew of Malta, and Robert of Las Vegas, Nevada. Dessie was further blessed with 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Dessie was preceded in death by her husband John; four sons, John Francis, Donald Roger, Paul Douglas, and Richard Lee. Also preceding her in death was a brother Elmer Roberts; and her sisters, Lena Ritchey and Wava Corinne Clay. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at James Funeral Home  at 8 E. Broad Street Newton Falls, Ohio , where services will be held at 11:00a.m. Wednesday. Dessie will be laid to rest along with her husband and departed children at the St Joseph’s Cemetery in Newton Falls. Online condolences and register book at  www.jamesfuneralhomeinc.com. 

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