January 16, 1932 - December 7, 2015
Jacqueline A. Mathy, 83, of Oconto passed away on Monday, December 7, 2015, at Bellin Health in Green Bay. She was born on January 16, 1932, to the late Gordon and Margaret Mathy in Menominee. Jacqueline is survived by two brothers, Fran (Sandy) Mathy of Oconto and Tom (Sandy) Mathy of Menominee; a sister, Barb Koch of Marinette; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers; Llewellyn, Richard, Don, Roger, Leighton, and Bill.
We all have that one uncle or aunt in the family. They are legendary in their pursuit of life, for how they dote on all the kids, for their quirkiness, their stories that, if you didn’t know better, sound too incredible to be true. Except they are true, which makes both the stories and the person even more amazing.
In my Pop’s family, that’s Aunt Jackie. Straight out of little Our Lady of Lourdes High School in 1949 she joined the US Foreign Service and promptly left to see the world. While Stationed in the US Embassy behind the Iron Curtain in Russia occupied Poland during the Cold War part of her “unofficial” job was to sneak out at night, with US rock ‘n roll records, books, booze, whatever she could carry. Jackie would meet up with locals, younger and unhappy with life under Communist regime, and literally… party with them. I remember her telling me stories of how she taught them American dance moves, listened to music, talked, drank, made friends, and watched underground artists make art.
There is a sculpture in her house of her from that time, a life size bust, made by one of those artists. I’ve often wondered what kind of stories they tell of her to their children, and their grandchildren.
She’d also tell us stories about her posting in Kathmandu, Nepal. That’s where Jackie really got a taste for art and antiques. Throughout her house there are rubbings from templates, statues, pieces, and mementos from her travels. She loved Asia, going back to travel to China after she retired.
After leaving the Foreign Service as a young woman, she made her way to San Francisco for a time. Her daily commute started and ended on Powell-Mason cable car terminus on Fisherman’s Wharf. When she visited me here in the late 90’s we went to the Buena Vista, there, she leaned over and quietly whispered “I used to stop here after work for an Irish Coffee and to flirt with all the young, handsome bartenders.” *pause, stop to look at the older bartenders* “I think they are still here!!!” and then she laughed and laughed.
I can never go to the place and not think of her.
After San Francisco she moved to Seattle, and found a place to truly call home. That’s where she bought her little house on Queen Anne Hill, settled down, and started collecting…people. Jackie knew everyone. She worked at the Seattle Post Intelligencer and become close friends with its publisher and innumerable staff there, including one Frank Herbert, who went off to write Dune series. “He was a little weird”, she once told me. Jackie also knew various mayors, odd dignitaries, and pretty much everybody in a 2 block radius of her corner. She hosted many a niece and nephew who flocked to her for summer adventures away from their parents. Jackie welcomed us all, and our friends, and anyone else, to her tiny little house. Just be careful of the crazy cat and you’d be just fine.
I told you once I started writing I wouldn’t want to stop. I can go on and on and on about Aunt Jackie. And I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to admit I can’t see because I am crying, and can’t seem to stop that, either. I don’t want to admit to myself or anyone else that she is gone.
Last night, at 8:20pm, surrounded by her remaining brothers and sister, Jacqueline Mathy passed away in a hospital in Green Bay, WI at 83 years of age. She was larger than life, fearless, kind hearted to those she loved, and fierce to those who would harm them. Jackie collected art and antiques, was a voracious reader of history books, travelled the world, met people, made more friends than she knew what to do with, survived cancer, and acted as a sounding board and host to two generations of nieces and nephews.
Aunt Jackie had, by anyone’s measure, an incredible life. So much so that you’d be forgiven for thinking the stories were made up. Except that they weren’t. I feel blessed to have known her, and for my son to have gotten to know her as well as he did. There will never, ever, be another one like Aunt Jackie. Never. We will all miss you, love Erik
Friends may call at The Thielen Funeral Home 1403 Newberry Ave Marinette, WI on Saturday December 12th from 1pm to 2:30pm. Funeral Services will be held at 2:30pm with Reverend Celestine Byeqwaso officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery Menominee, MI. If desired memorials to Bay Area Oncology would be appreciated.
