Matilda Magnatta

Matilda Christina Magnatta passed away on Monday, June 30, 2025, with her husband and loving family by her side. She was 94 years young. Matilda (Tillie) was born on September 22, 1930, to German immigrants, Eric and Mathilda (Kraheck) Grunwald, in West New York, New Jersey, and had three siblings: Eric, Norman, and Patrick.

As the only daughter, Matilda knew how to stand out in a crowd-at 5'9", her rosy cheeks, shining green eyes, and infectious laugh left an immediate and lasting impact on all who knew and loved her, especially her husband of 77 years, Alfred Magnatta.

Tillie grew up in Valley Cottage, NY, and attended Valley Cottage Elementary, but when it was time to attend high school, she would take the train from Valley Cottage to Congers High School. It was in Congers that she met her husband, Al Magnatta, built a home on Chauncy Street, and raised four children together: Linda (married to Ken Zebrowski), Kathy (married to Patrick Peters), Alfred Jr (married to Carol), and Jeffrey (married to Luanne). Tillie and her family often vacationed in Harvard, New York, and Miami, Florida, where her love for animals, predominantly dogs and horses, gardening, swimming, cooking, knitting, music, singing, and fast cars took root.

Tillie was an active member of the Congers Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary for many years. In her youth, she worked at Lederle Laboratories, a prominent pharmaceutical company recognized for its contributions to both veterinary and human medicine.

Matilda wore many hats and went by many names - 'Tillie' to her husband, family, and friends; 'Mom' to her four (4) children; 'Nana' to her sixteen (16) grandchildren; 'Gigi' to her twenty-four (24) great grandchildren; 'Mrs. Magnatta' to the students she taught at BOCES; 'The Congers Comet' to the Nanuet Women's Classic Bowling League, whose performance and handicap dominated the competition and shattered records.

Matilda was the cornerstone of every family gathering and loved her family fiercely—a love that only deepened with each passing decade. There's nothing she loved more than when her grandkids would call or drop by unannounced. Her door, like her heart, was always open and ready to share a sweet treat (or glass of scotch), whisper words of wisdom, and play uninhibited with her great grandbabies. We will miss her gentle heart, tenacious spirit, and stubborn love beyond all measure. Family will receive friends on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 3-7 pm at Higgins Funeral Home in New City, NY.

The funeral service will take place at the same venue on July 8, 2025, from 10:00 am to 10:45 am.

Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, Rockland Lake Rd, Congers, NY, 10920, on July 8, 2025, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.