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HELEN MATTHEWS Age 83, a resident of Albuquerque since 1971, passed away Friday, 17 August 2012, after a lengthy struggle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Ed; children: sons Michael (and wife Barbara} of Albuquerque, Patrick (and wife Sharon Novak) of Ocean Beach, San Diego, California: daughter, Edwina (Wendy) (and husband Jon Helton), Sandia Park ; son, James, of Durango, Colorado; daughter Lisbeth (Beth), and husband David d'Antonio, of Cedar Crest, son Mark, and daughter Lynne Carlberg, both of Albuquerque. There are nine grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Martha Burgman and husband Jerome, and Betty DiBagno, all of Pittsburgh, PA. Helen was preceded in death by her brother Harry, and sister, Mary, also of Pittsburgh. Helen was a member of Our Lady of Annunciation Roman Catholic Church since her arrival in Albuquerque and an active participant in its Marianite Association for the past several decades. Helen was a 1947 graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Pittsburgh. Soon after high school she joined the State Department Foreign Service. Her first posting was to Madrid, Spain where she met her husband Ed, stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. They were married in a civil ceremony at the U.S. Legation, Tangier (International Zone), and religious ceremony at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Rabat (then French Morocco). After a career of various assignments in Colorado, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Cape Cod Mass., Long Island New York, again in Mississippi, and a final tour in Wiesbaden, Federal Republic of Germany , during which she raised a wonderful family of seven, she retired with her family to live the remainder of her days in Albuquerque. Her favorite activities, in addition to the Church, involved arts and crafts including ceramics and an award-winning stained glass Christmas window. She also enjoyed river rafting, having rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon three times, as well as many others streams in the Rockies & Southwest with her family and friends. A Rosary will be recited Thursday, August 23, 2012, 7:00pm at French Mortuary - Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE. Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 24 2012 at 8:30am at Our Lady of Annunciation Parish, 2621 Vermont St NE, Albuquerque. Interment will follow at Mt Calvary Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helen's favorite activity, Our Lady of Annunciation Church (Marianite activities), 2621 Vermont St NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87110. Please visit our online guestbook for Helen at RememberTheirStory.com FRENCH 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
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