Loretta Matthews

04/09/2006

Loretta Matthews, 88, of 123 Commercial St. died Sunday evening at Williamstown Commons. Born in North Adams on June 28, 1917, daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Raposki Bezzie, she attended North Adams schools, and also completed several college business courses. She had resided in North Adams and Clarksburg until moving to Adams in 1957. Mrs. Matthews served with the U.S. Army Women's Auxiliary Corps in Florida during World War II. She worked as an automatic screw machine inspector at General Electric Co. in Pittsfield before the war. Following her honorable discharge, she returned to work in several departments at Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams, retiring from its research center in 1984. While at Sprague, she received recognition for her efforts in meeting wartime production goals. Of Russian and Polish descent, Mrs. Matthews enjoyed cooking ethnic foods and gardening. She enjoyed playing cards and writing in her journals. She particularly enjoyed singing songs and writing poetry in Polish. She was fond of animals, and owned several cats and dogs throughout her life. Her husband, William R. Matthews, whom she married on June 20, 1947, died Feb. 17, 2001. She is survived by a daughter, Michelle Wellspeak of Adams; a son, Michael Matthews of Adams; four grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Loretta Matthews died Sunday, April 9, 2006. Funeral services and burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association through AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, MA 01220, which is in charge of arrangements. To leave a message of condolence, please go online to www.apsfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Matthews also leaves four grandchildren, Sheila Wellspeak, Tiffany Mize, Ryan Matthews and Christopher Matthews, all of Adams; two step-grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Tassone and Billy Newlands, both of Adams, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by six sisters, Helen, Marsha, Lillian, Elizabeth, Annie and Marian, and by two brothers, Thomas and Frank.

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