Phone: 207-985-2752
In Memory of
Josephine F.
Matthews
Matthews
1919 - 2018
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Bibber Memorial Chapel
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
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Lisa Guerette
"I wish you a lovely book, on a porch, in the summer by the sea. "
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Memorial Candle Tribute From
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guerette (Marsha Card)
"My great Aunt Jo was one of a kind. She was intelligent, caring, loved her fami"
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Memorial Candle Tribute From
The Roach Family.
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Obituary for Josephine F. Matthews
Josephine Frances Matthews
October 29, 1919-January 11, 2018
Josephine Frances Matthews died peacefully on January 11, 2018 at the age of 98 years. She was born in the family home on Bald Hill Road in the Highpine section of Wells, Maine on October 29, 1919, the 10th child of Fred Wesley Matthews and Ethel Maria (Littlefield) Matthews, who was a direct descendent of Edmund Littlefield, the first settler in Wells.
Josephine had fond memories of growing up surrounded by her eleven siblings on the “Old Matthews Homestead” (as she affectionately called it), a working farm located on Bald Hill Road in Wells. During the Great Depression, her family always had plenty to eat. They had an organ in the kitchen and while her mother played it, her father played a jew’s-harp, filling the house with music.
Josephine began school in one of the many one-room schoolhouses in Wells at that time, #14, Elmbrook located in Highpine/Wells Depot, where she had the job of arriving early to light the woodstove. She was an active member of the 4-H Club. Josephine joined the Elmbrook Grange at age 14, later serving as an officer. She was also a member of the State and National Granges. While in college, she was honored by receiving the Maine State Grange Scholarship. Governor Edmund S. Muskie presented the award.
She graduated from Wells High School as Valedictorian in 1937 and was a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Josephine took home correspondence courses in business and accounting from LaSalle University.
She attended both the Maine School of Commerce in Portland and Gorham State Teacher’s College (now the University of Southern Maine) and graduated in 1957. That same year, she began her job as a Professor of Education at Gorham State Teacher’s College. Josephine was a supervising teacher at the Training Schools in Gorham from 1957-1967. She was the Associate Professor of Education at the University of Maine in Presque Isle for many years. Later, Josephine was a Professor at the University of Southern Maine, and she continued teaching at USM until her retirement.
She was predeceased by her parents Fred and Ethel, her siblings Wesley (“Buster”), Gertrude, Harry, Wilfred, Clifford, Alice, Katherine, Irving, Louise, Susan and Calvin, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
No memorial service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Josephine’s memory to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102. A note of sincere thanks goes out to Josephine’s caregivers at Gorham House for the excellent care and companionship that they provided to her during the last years of her life.
October 29, 1919-January 11, 2018
Josephine Frances Matthews died peacefully on January 11, 2018 at the age of 98 years. She was born in the family home on Bald Hill Road in the Highpine section of Wells, Maine on October 29, 1919, the 10th child of Fred Wesley Matthews and Ethel Maria (Littlefield) Matthews, who was a direct descendent of Edmund Littlefield, the first settler in Wells.
Josephine had fond memories of growing up surrounded by her eleven siblings on the “Old Matthews Homestead” (as she affectionately called it), a working farm located on Bald Hill Road in Wells. During the Great Depression, her family always had plenty to eat. They had an organ in the kitchen and while her mother played it, her father played a jew’s-harp, filling the house with music.
Josephine began school in one of the many one-room schoolhouses in Wells at that time, #14, Elmbrook located in Highpine/Wells Depot, where she had the job of arriving early to light the woodstove. She was an active member of the 4-H Club. Josephine joined the Elmbrook Grange at age 14, later serving as an officer. She was also a member of the State and National Granges. While in college, she was honored by receiving the Maine State Grange Scholarship. Governor Edmund S. Muskie presented the award.
She graduated from Wells High School as Valedictorian in 1937 and was a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Josephine took home correspondence courses in business and accounting from LaSalle University.
She attended both the Maine School of Commerce in Portland and Gorham State Teacher’s College (now the University of Southern Maine) and graduated in 1957. That same year, she began her job as a Professor of Education at Gorham State Teacher’s College. Josephine was a supervising teacher at the Training Schools in Gorham from 1957-1967. She was the Associate Professor of Education at the University of Maine in Presque Isle for many years. Later, Josephine was a Professor at the University of Southern Maine, and she continued teaching at USM until her retirement.
She was predeceased by her parents Fred and Ethel, her siblings Wesley (“Buster”), Gertrude, Harry, Wilfred, Clifford, Alice, Katherine, Irving, Louise, Susan and Calvin, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
No memorial service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Josephine’s memory to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102. A note of sincere thanks goes out to Josephine’s caregivers at Gorham House for the excellent care and companionship that they provided to her during the last years of her life.