Marilyn F. Matassa

Marilyn Fairweather Matassa, 71,of West Newfield, ME, formerly of Manchester CT, died Monday, September 27, 2004 after loosing her valiant fight against lung disease.She was born in Hartford CT on June 10, 1933, the youngest daughter of Frank and Louise Jasch Fairweather. Marilyn grew up at 66 Walker Street, Manchester CT and graduated from Manchester High School in 1950. She was employed at Southern New England Telephone as an operator. She became engaged to Mario "Turk" Matassa on September 27,1953. They were wed on May 15, 1954. Before starting a family, she worked in the purchasing department of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, CT. She had 3 children starting in 1956. First and foremost she was a mother and homemaker. She loved to cook, sew, knit, embroider, and ceramics, as well as enjoying spending time with her husband and family traveling, camping and sightseeing.Marilyn was a member Center Congregational Church in Manchester and of the Eastern Star Temple Chapter #53,in Manchester. She also worked the courtesy desk for Mott's Supermarket, and Dillon Ford in Manchester. Fulfilling one of their many dreams, they purchased a summer camp on Hidden Lake in West Newfield ME. In 1972 the family moved to Saco ME where Marilyn worked at Shaw's Supermarket courtesy desk.Marilyn and Turk bought and ran the Country Store in Lebanon, ME, 1977 through 1985 where they enjoyed assisting and interacting with their customers. Many of them became friends, with whom they enjoyed going to antique auctions, having dinner and playing various card games. After selling the store they moved to " the camp" on Hidden Lake, which was her favorite place to be. In 1987 she began working at Sherwin Williams in Springvale, ME where she has been employed for 17 years.During the last few years, Marilyn very much enjoyed the benefits of being a grandmother, and was a loving and thoughtful mother and friend. She enjoyed doing the daily crossword and always had a jigsaw puzzle in some state of completion.She was widowed in 2002 and despite her illness remained a caregiver to her mother-in-law, Sarah, until her death earlier this month at age 100. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie (Fairweather) Salmon and her husband Merritt, of Vernon CT; her brother, Howard Fairweather and his wife, Joyce, and brother Kenneth Fairweather, and his wife Jane, all of Coventry CT.Also surviving are her children Scott Matassa, of Windham, ME, Dayna Smith and her husband Richard, of Sanford ME and Keith Matassa of Saco, ME. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Krista and Timothy Matassa of Windham, Joe and Lauren Small and Rebecca and Christopher Smith all of Sanford ME.Visiting hours will be held at Heald Funeral Home in Sanford Thursday, September 30th from 5:30-8 P.M.; where funeral services will be held on Friday, October 1st at 10:00 AM.