Katharine G. (Pigott) Matthews

KATHARINE G. (PIGOTT) MATTHEWS – of Woburn, Tuesday, March 18th. Beloved wife of the late Daniel J. Matthews. Devoted mother of Richard Matthews and his wife Diana of Woburn, Janis L. Nurnberger of ME, Stephen P. Matthews and his wife Audrey of Melrose, and the late Terrance M. Matthews and Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Mother-in-law of Karen Matthews of Lynn. Dear sister of Arthur Pigott of Burlington and the late Edgar “Buddy” Pigott, Richard Pigott, Donald Pigott, and Margaret Williams. Cherished grandmother of twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a Funeral Service at the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, March 21st at 10 a.m. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment in Holyhood Cemetery, Chestnut Hill. Remembrances may be made in Katharine’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

OBITUARY:

Katharine G. (Pigott) Matthews passed away at the Coutyard Nursing Center in Medford after a lingering illness. The beloved wife of the late Daniel J. Matthews, she was eighty-six years of age.

A lifelong resident of Woburn, Mrs. Matthews was the daughter of the late Edgar and Carrie (Shaw) Pigott. Raised and educated here, she was a graduate of Woburn High School with the Class of 1945. She continued her education in nursing, having graduated from Lawrence Memorial Nursing School.

In 1947, she became the bride of Daniel “Dan” Matthews, a fine young gentleman that she was introduced to by a fellow nursing student from South Boston. They courted for a little over a year and after their marriage they moved to Oklahoma for a short time while Mr. Matthews was serving his country in the United States Army.

They returned home and lived a short time in the Green Street area and then to Horn Pond, right across the street. Four sons and a daughter filled their lives. Summertime was always a wonderful time for family to gather and all head off camping. The White Mountains was the destination and they had a ball. Always sleeping out under the stars, swimming, hiking, and fishing occupied their days quite nicely for two weeks. Later, as the children got older, the family began switching out the White Mountains for Old Orchard Beach, where all the fun times continued and have continued over the years.

Katharine had worked as a Nurse’s Aide over thirty some odd years, right up the street from her home at the Choate Memorial Hospital. She so enjoyed her position there, assisting and caring for the patients, pre-op, post-op, or an illness of any kind, Katharine was there. She retired from the Choate in 1992.

An avid bridge and whist player, she and her friends would meet at her home every Wednesday over the years and had a lot of laughs. Katharine and her husband always travelled with a wonderful group of their friends, going to destinations in Maine, Foxwoods, New Hampshire, Las Vegas, or wherever else they thought of.

Sundays were always set aside for family! All the children and grandchildren would gather for Sunday dinner and an afternoon with each other. It was always best though when the weather was warmer and the ducks were around to feed, sitting on the farmer’s porch, watching and talking to all the different people walking by. Family was where it was all at for Katharine. A very outgoing woman, she could be counted on in any situation as a supporter or an advisor, she was always there.

Katharine was sadly predeceased by her husband, Daniel J. Matthews; her sons, Terrance M. Matthews and Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.; and her siblings, Edgar “Buddy” Pigott, Richard Pigott, Donald Pigott, and Margaret Williams.

She is lovingly survived by her children, Richard Matthews and his wife Diana of Woburn, Janis L. Nurnberger of ME, and Stephen P. Matthews and his wife Audrey of Melrose; her daughter-in-law, Karen Matthews of Lynn; her brother, Arthur Pigott of Burlington; and her twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a Funeral Service at the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, March 21st at 10 a.m. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment in Holyhood Cemetery, Chestnut Hill. Remembrances may be made in Katharine’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.