Gloria Jean Matthews, 80, passed away on Monday, February 8, 2021.
Gloria was born in Rochester, NH, on November 23, 1940, to Cleon and Alice (Forcier) Howard. She was last employed as a Secretary for United Community Family Services, Norwich, and she also spent many years volunteering at the Voluntown Public Library and at blood drives for the Red Cross. Gloria loved her family and her cats, and she was a Red Sox fan. She enjoyed gardening and many other artistic pursuits including sewing, needlework, crocheting, drawing and singing with the senior chorus. She especially liked to go out for a drive exploring the dirt roads and old cellar holes in the forests of Voluntown.
Gloria was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, David H. Matthews, in 2009. She is survived by her four children: Lee Ann and her husband Stanley Kusinski, Jr. of New Britain, CT; Christopher Matthews and his wife Theresa of Griswold, CT; Glen Matthews and his wife Diana of Charlotte Courthouse, VA; and Robert Matthews and his husband Jack Renshaw of Providence, RI; and by nine grandchildren: Naomi Adams Furtado, Nicholas Adams, Forrest Matthews, Abigail Matthews, Jordan Matthews, Shelby Matthews, Forrest Mackley, Jack Kusinski, David Kusinski; and by five great-grandchildren. Gloria is also survived by her sister Donna and her husband David Allen of Rye, NH; and by her brother James Howard and his wife Paula of Middleton, NH. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and dear friends, including those in her beloved Emmaus community. Gloria was especially grateful for the care provided to her by Melissa Smey.
A graveside service will be held 10:30AM Saturday, July 31, 2021 at St. Thomas Cemetery, Griswold, CT.
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