MATOUSEK, Mary Elizabeth (Melville)

Mary Elizabeth (Melville) Matousek, a former Sudbury resident, died on 25 January 2015 in Englewood, Colorado – 3 1/2 years after a diagnosis for pancreatic cancer.  She is survived by Jan, her husband of 49 1/2 years; her children, Peter (Kristin) and Kathryn (Mike); and her grandchildren Oscar, Georgia, Charles, Ian, and Will.   Mary Beth was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on the 14th of July 1938.  She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BSc in Nursing in 1961 and pursued a professional career as a registered nurse (RN) in Montreal, Quebec; Vancouver; Questa, New Mexico; Kingston and Sudbury, Ontario; and Denver, Colorado.   In Sudbury she made her home in LoEllen Park and was employed by the Sudbury & District Health Unit before moving to Denver in 1986.  Her husband Jan was employed at Inco Ltd; her son Peter graduated from Lockerby Composite School; her daughter Kathryn (born in Sudbury) attended the R.L. Beattie and Alexander Public Schools.  Mary Beth was an active member of the Church of the Epiphany, the University Women’s Club, and was an avid player of bridge.   Her passions were her children and grandchildren; her school and university classmates; her profession and professional associates; her neighbors (she was a good one and so were they); her gardens; her quilts (and quilters); and all Canadian hockey teams.   She was visited by her children and grandchildren this past August, November, and December.  The family will hold a private memorial service later this year in Vancouver.   Please remember her with a visit to your favorite park, garden, art gallery, or quilting shop; or with a donation to your favorite cancer society or the charity of your choice.   Thank you to all who have supported and cared for her and her family through hard times.  She bore her disease with courage, hope, and dignity; and died quietly, at peace, at home.