Barbara A. (Mcbreen) Matusek

WORCESTER/NORTHAMPTON – Barbara A. (McBreen) Matusek, 87, formerly of Northampton, MA, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester. Born and raised in Northampton, Barbara was the daughter of Hiram and Mary (Keefe) McBreen and lived the last 18 years in Worcester. Barbara graduated from Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in 1949 and worked as a registered nurse at both Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Northampton State Hospital. She married the love of her life, John Matusek, on October 14, 1950 at St. Mary’s Church in Northampton. She was a member of the former St. Mary’s Church in Northampton, Blessed Sacrament Church in Worcester and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. She was a devout Catholic and throughout her life maintained a gracious and giving demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many.  She was tenacious by nature and encouraged her children to be the best version of themselves. Barbara adored her grandchildren, attending as many of their school and sports events as she was able. She enjoyed cooking, reading and listening to country music. Barbara’s family would to extend their sincere gratitude to owners’ Ben, Micha and Carrie as well as the staff at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester for their compassionate, extraordinary care and unwavering support.
Her husband of 35 years, John J. Matusek died in 1985. She leaves a daughter, Jane M. Beahn and her husband, John of Worcester; a son, James W. Matusek and his wife, Evelyn of Peabody; a brother, William McBreen and his wife, Fran of Naples, Florida; a sister, Mary and her husband, Dr. Stanley Kocot of Cape Cod; four grandchildren, Caitlin (Beahn) Levesque, Brian and Amanda Beahn, and Jason Matusek; two great-grandchildren, Haylee and Carson Levesque; several nephews and nieces; and her dear friend and companion, Maurice Rana of Worcester. Besides her husband, John, Barbara is predeceased by her grandson, Shane.            Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Barbara’s family from 8 to 9:30 am on Friday, November 18, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden, followed by a procession to St. George's Church, 38 Brattle Street in Worcester where a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am. Interment will be private at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Northampton.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts-New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 ( www.alz.org/manh/ ). To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "sign the guest book" on this page.


WORCESTER/NORTHAMPTON – Barbara A. (McBreen) Matusek, 87, formerly of Northampton, MA, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester. Born and raised in Northampton, Barbara was the daughter of Hiram and Mary (Keefe) McBreen and lived the last 18 years in Worcester. Barbara graduated from Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in 1949 and worked as a registered nurse at both Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Northampton State Hospital. She married the love of her life, John Matusek, on October 14, 1950 at St. Mary’s Church in Northampton. She was a member of the former St. Mary’s Church in Northampton, Blessed Sacrament Church in Worcester and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. She was a devout Catholic and throughout her life maintained a gracious and giving demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many.  She was tenacious by nature and encouraged her children to be the best version of themselves. Barbara adored her grandchildren, attending as many of their school and sports events as she was able. She enjoyed cooking, reading and listening to country music. Barbara’s family would to extend their sincere gratitude to owners’ Ben, Micha and Carrie as well as the staff at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester for their compassionate, extraordinary care and unwavering support. Her husband of 35 years, John J. Matusek died in 1985. She leaves a daughter, Jane M. Beahn and her husband, John of Worcester; a son, James W. Matusek and his wife, Evelyn of Peabody; a brother, William McBreen and his wife, Fran of Naples, Florida; a sister, Mary and her husband, Dr. Stanley Kocot of Cape Cod; four grandchildren, Caitlin (Beahn) Levesque, Brian and Amanda Beahn, and Jason Matusek; two great-grandchildren, Haylee and Carson Levesque; several nephews and nieces; and her dear friend and companion, Maurice Rana of Worcester. Besides her husband, John, Barbara is predeceased by her grandson, Shane.            Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Barbara’s family from 8 to 9:30 am on Friday, November 18, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden, followed by a procession to St. George's Church, 38 Brattle Street in Worcester where a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am. Interment will be private at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Northampton.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts-New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 ( www.alz.org/manh/ ). To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "sign the guest book" on this page.