Obituary of Helen Mattson

Helen Mattson, 87, of Howell, passed away on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, NJ after a brief illness. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and also lived in Pittsburg, PA and Rochester, NY before relocating to New Jersey in 1965, finally settling in Freehold Township where she resided with her husband, William F. “Bill” Mattson until his passing in 2004. She moved to The Villages, Howell, in 2008, where she became active in a stitchery group and practiced yoga. She was a very recent resident of Brandywine Living at Howell. Helen held administrative assistant positions throughout her life, but she was most proud of, and truly treasured, her tenure as a dispatcher at the Freehold Township Police Department. She enjoyed participating in the social activities of the East Freehold Fire Company with Bill, who was a long time member. She was a former member of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star. Helen also was a crochet enthusiast and spent many years producing infant items which she donated to area hospitals. After retiring, Helen was a regular visitor to Atlantic City and rarely missed an opportunity to spend the day on the boardwalk and at the slots. She vacationed with the area senior travel groups, taking several trips each year. She particularly loved cruising the New England and Canadian coasts during the fall foliage season. Helen loved the ocean and regularly drove herself to the area beaches simply to drink in the view with a cup of coffee. Helen was predeceased by her husband, Bill, and three siblings, Joseph, Peter and Paul Grinkewitz. She is survived by her sons and daughter in-law, Douglas and Julie Mattson, Wall, NJ, and Glenn Mattson, Chestertown, NY; five grandchildren, Jennifer and William DeAtley, White Plains, MD, Glenn Jr. and Amanda Mattson, Attleboro, MA, Nikita and Eric Gaudreau, Glenns Falls, NY, Bethany and Michael McCredie, Brick, NJ, Daniel and Rachael Mattson, Wilmington, DE, and Jeffrey Mattson, Wall, NJ; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Jennie Kosinski, Philadelphia, PA and Ruth Romanoski, Exeter, PA; and several dear nieces and nephews. A visitation and viewing will be held Friday, October 14, 2016 from 3 to 7PM at Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold, NJ. A service will be held at 6PM. Cremation will be private. For those who desire, a memorial donation may be made in Helen’s name to the Masonic Charities of Pennsylvania, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. For directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.higginsmemorialhome.com.