Elizabeth Matathia, 96

CANTON, MASS. – Elizabeth (Minkin) Matathia, formerly of North Dartmouth, passed away on March 8, 2025, at Orchard Cove, in Canton. She was the devoted and beloved wife of the late David Matathia for 56 years.

Elizabeth, known as Betty, was born on Sept. 28, 1928, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the late Samuel and Theresa Minkin. Raised in New Bedford, she graduated from New Bedford High School. After raising four children, she worked at the family’s garment business with her husband, Dave, and brother-in-law, Irving.

She was a lifelong learner and stressed the importance of education to her family. As an adult in later life, she studied and became a Bat Mitzvah. This was experienced as a major accomplishment. Her many interests were dancing, aerobic exercising and baking. She deeply loved music and often sang in choral groups, moving to the beat of the music, joyfully expressing her maternal family name “Singer.” She learned how to make foods from her husband’s native country Greece and became an expert baker of “kloodia” (koulourakia), a special type of Greek cookie. No trip to Grandma Betty’s was complete without a trip to the cookie cupboard filled with jars of “kloodia” and other home-baked goodies, all made from scratch.

Tennis became a passion, and she encouraged her grandchildren to play as well. While wintering in Arizona, she welcomed all family and friends to visit and play tennis with her. Family was her joy and pleasure. People of all ages loved Betty.

Betty is survived by her children Susan Miller and her husband, Jerry, of Jerusalem, Israel; Ellen Matathia and her husband, Stu, of Lincoln, Massachusetts; Sandy Matathia and his wife, Bethann, of Reading, Massachusetts; and Mat Matathia and his wife, Kris, of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. She was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren, Mati, Dari, Tali, Shmaya, Kavi, Ben, Jason, Josh, Sarah, Justin, Shannon, Sam and Alex, and 27 great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to Tifereth Israel Congregation, 145 Brownell Ave., New Bedford, MA 02740; the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford, MA 02740; or the Orchard Cove Scholarship Fund, 1 Del Pond Drive, Canton, MA 02021.