Josephine A. Matteson

With hearts full of sorrow and thanksgiving, Josephine Agnes Matteson, 96, Akron, Ohio, was called home to the Lord on September 5, 2026.

She was born Josephine Jankowiak on December 22, 1929, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Jan and Maryanna (Budney) with her older siblings Betty and Leo who all preceded her in death. St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Moxham became the center of her early life living next door to the church where her father worked 25 years as its sexton. At Johnstown Catholic High, Jo was a talented majorette and violinist. She was beloved by her classmates who wrote no better description of a friend, worker, wife, mother, and grandmother to be:

"Jo's sparkling brown eyes and her alert, energetic way of doing things are external qualities which make her attractive in any group. Underneath this spirited exterior lies the thoughtful, sympathetic, reliable person which Jo's friends know her to be."

She lived in Johnstown for 50 years where she not only worked professionally in various roles but led many charitable events as president of women's business organizations like the Venture Club and Business and Professional Women's Foundation (BPW) to support the needs of working women and those less fortunate. She eventually rose to executive secretary for the president of Laurel Management (the city's water company) during the 1970s while raising her two sons - John and Bill - as a single mother.

In 1980, she settled in Westlake Village, California where she married John "Jack" Matteson, her long lost love and former co-worker at General Telephone in Johnstown. She was a founding member of the "football moms" at Westlake High as well as the Stanford football parents' group where her and Jack watched Bill play. Later in life, she confided those were the best years of her life. Her stellar administrative work continued with Security Pacific Bank with whom she retired from in the early 1990s before moving to Akron, Ohio to be closer to John. She remained in Akron for the remainder of her life retiring (again) from Summit County. Her final years were peacefully spent at the Rockynol care facility in Akron. Jo's eternal resting place will be aside Jack who proceeded her in death (2000).

Jo was very proud of her Polish heritage as her dad emigrated from Poland in the early 1900's while her mom's parents emigrated in the 1880's. She was a lifelong devout Catholic parishioner of St. Patrick's and Our Mother of Sorrows (Johnstown), St. Judes (Westlake Village), and St. Sebastian (Akron). Jo loved her Steelers, Snoopy, and always remembering her family and friends with cards and notes graced with impeccable penmanship.

She is survived by son, John (Kris) Fiander of Akron and grandsons Michael of New York City, and Alex of Bloomington, Indiana; son, Bill (Shari Sommer) Fiander and granddaughters Emma of Princeton, New Jersey, and Ruth of Chicago, Illinois; stepdaughter Pamela (Dennis) Delaney of Panama City, Florida and granddaughters Megan (Payne) Henderson of Dothan, Alabama and Lauren (Mark) Olme of Washington, DC.

A mass will be held 11:00 AM Friday, September 18th at St. Sebastian's Catholic Church in Akron followed by interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Donations in Jo's name may be sent to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 609 Park Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15905.