Obituary of Jean Matheson

Mrs. Jean Matheson of Aylmer, Ontario went home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Monday, August 10, 2015. Jean was the daughter of Ernest and Elizabeth Dell, born in the Township of Malahide on October 18, 1918. She was predeceased by her parents and her only brother Robert Dell and his wife Mildred of Windsor. Surviving are her niece Cathy (Dell) Rollo and husband John, grand niece Dawn Bruce and husband Ian, and grand-nephew Del Rollo and wife Lisa. Jean was great great aunt to Connor, Sean and Walker Rollo, and Aiden and Dannyn Bruce. During the early war years Jean married George Matheson of Toronto who served in The Royal Canadian Air Force overseas for the duration of World War II. With the exception of six years residing in Toronto after the war, Jean lived most of her life in her family's heritage home in Aylmer. She loved her town and her home and was a 30-year member of the Aylmer Heritage Committee. Jean was a legal secretary and held positions in law firms in Toronto, London and St. Thomas before returning to Aylmer where she was with the law firm Doyle and Prendergast for 42 years until retirement. For over 70 years she was a faithful member of St. Paul's United Church in Aylmer. She was very active in young people's activities and was a long time pianist of many organizations. She taught Sunday school for many years and in 1960 she founded the JOY Class for teenage girls. In the following 40 years, Jean and her successive classes of girls drove to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital weekly taking bouquets of flowers, cards and smiles to the many patients. They also often visited the war veterans in London, at first in the old Westminster Veterans Hospital and then when many patients were transferred to Parkwood Hospital, continuing to visit them, singing favourite war songs and old hymns, and enjoying having the veterans who were able to sing along. The JOY Class also frequently took groups of Aylmer seniors out on bus trips and to dinners. They worked for weeks at Christmas time each year, gather clothing, toys and food to pack hampers for the poor, which the girls personally delivered just before Christmas Day. The JOY Class labours of love terminated in 2000 when Jean turned 82. Over many years Jean received many honours and awards, but she gave God the praise. As she often said and truly believed Jesus' words in John 15: 5, "…without Me you can do nothing." Friends may call at the H.A. Kebbel Funeral Home on Friday, August 14 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., where the funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 11 a.m. Jean will be buried in the family plot in the Aylmer Cemetery beside her beloved mother and father. Donations to St. Paul's United Church of Aylmer are appreciated. Share memories and condolences at kebbelfuneralhome.com