Fred Matvias, 91, of South Ave., formerly of Sheffield and Rome NY, passed away, January 8, 2016 at St Mary’s Asbury Ridge in Erie.
Born May 5, 1924, in Ludlow he was the son of the late Michael and Anna (Kowal) Matwijec.
On May 4, 1946, in St. Bernard Church, before Rev, Joseph Shakely, pastor of St. Michael's Byzantine Rite, he married Mary (Hvizdzak) Matvias, who died on June 21, 1992.
Mr. Matvias was a 1942 graduate of Rome Free Academy in Rome NY.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Force in WW II. He was a member of the 15th Bomb Group which was part of the United States Army Air Force during WW II. He was stationed in North Africa and later in Italy. He was a Flight Engineer and a Top Turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew 52 combat missions over Europe.
He had been employed in the Research Lab at Kendall Refining for 42 years retiring in 1988.
He was a member of St. Bernard Church and a former member of St. Michael's Byzantine Rite in Sheffield. He was a member 99th Bomb Group Historical Association, the American Legion, AARP, former member and secretary of the Anthonian Men's Club in Lewis Run, former Vice President of the Church Council of St. Michael's.
Surviving are three children, two daughters, Andrea (Terry) Hartlieb, of Ft. Collins CO, and Joanne (Dr. John) Edmunds, of Lenoir, NC, one son, Dr. Fredrick M.(Mary) Matvias, of Troy, MI, one brother, Myron Matwijec, of Lakeland, FL, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one daughter Mary Ann Matvias in 1954, and three sisters, Mary Zuk, Anastasia Swistak, Veronica Witt, two brothers, Walter and Paul Matwijec.
Family will recieve friends on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 from 3-5 pm & 7-9 pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. 372 East Main St., Friends are also invited to attend Parakhida sevices at 9:00am Thursday in the funeral home, followed by a 10:00am Funeral of Divine Liturgy in St.Bernard Church, with Fr. David Bosnich, Pastor of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church in Sheffield as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery. On Wednesday Fr. David Bosnich will conduct a Parastas Service at 3:30pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes 372 East Main St.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to St.Bernard Elementary School, 450 West Washington Street Bradford, PA 16701 or Susan K. Ryan Memorial Fund, c/o Bradford Hospital Foundation, 116 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701 or charity of the donor's choice.
On line condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com