Matilda Margaret Fenchak

Matilda was born and raised in The Bronx by her parents, Josephine and Andrew Frey. She was the third youngest and last surviving of the eight children.

When WWII broke out and her education at Cathedral High School in Manhattan was disrupted, Matilda took to work at Keuffel & Esser (K&E), an American firm located at 127 Fulton Street that created drafting materials and instruments. Her role was to hand deliver schematics within the firm and to local clients. Matilda felt this was her way of contributing to the war effort.

In September of 1943, in the midst of the war, Matilda wed Joseph Fenchak during one of his brief visits home. They wrote to one another nearly every day, and at one point he was relocated to Florida and asked her to join him. Wasting no time, Matilda immediately travelled south via multiple trains from NYC, only to find her husband had already been redeployed overseas by the time her last train arrived. She slept the night and returned back north via the same trains the very next day.

At the conclusion of the war two years later, Matilda quit her job at K&E to meet Joseph in Florida, this time being successful. They returned to New York after three months, living in a Quonset hut in The Bronx for three-and-a-half years together before purchasing their home in Flushing, Queens, where they would raise their children.

Guided by her Catholic faith, Matilda saw the good in everyone she met and loved nothing more than spending time with her family, hosting every holiday party with a smile and delicious home-cooked meals. Her famous line was “come on everybody, dinner is ready, and there is plenty for all”. She sang with the Saint Andrew Avellino Roman Catholic Church for over 25 years and belonged to multiple church friendship clubs.

Anyone who knew Matilda can attest that she never missed a Sunday Mass. After she stopped driving at the age of 90 she would wait by the door 20 minutes early with her coat on and her house keys and purse in her hands, starring down whoever was taking her that day to indicate that it was time they stopped sipping their coffee and got dressed. Even once the Covid-19 pandemic hit everyone knew to not disrupt her once it struck 11 o’clock in the morning, as that was when Sunday Mass streamed through her television.

For over twenty years she spent her summers, as well as some cold winter weekends, at her family cottage in Ellenville, NY. There, she would swim, tend to her vegetable garden, and play volleyball, badminton, croquet, bocce, horseshoes, or really any other game her family suggested. Many nights were spent around the homemade fire pit, where stories were told and laughter was heard.

When Matilda was around 50-years-old she joined a women’s bowling league with one of her daughters, and she continued to bowl through her 80s, oftentimes scoring over 200 points and returning home with a trophy in her hands.

Matilda was a voracious reader, finishing a book every week and making note of its title and her rating. She also enjoyed volunteering at her children’s school library, which she did every week for many years. When she was not reading about the world she was experiencing it firsthand, traveling to the Hamptons, Connecticut, New Jersey, Boston, Bermuda, Florida, California, Hawaii, Mexico, Greece, and Turkey. Even in her 90s Matilda would happily travel solo on an Amtrak train to visit family… however would sometimes get off at the wrong stop.

She was also an avid gardener, magnificent swimmer and diver, and card game enthusiast. She was so good at sweeping the board that sometimes she was accused of being a card shark, but there was never any evidence of cheating. Scrabble was another favorite game of hers, which she enjoyed playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Some of her family members grew to love playing the game Loaded Questions with her. One of the questions asked all players where the best place to meet a significant other was, and while many believed Matilda’s answer was the response that read “at church”, she revealed her response was actually “dancing in the club”. She loved to listen to music and dance, and she did just that on her last birthday earlier this month.

Matilda’s birthday wish this year was to be able to see and feel snow one last time, which was granted to her just before she passed. That night she sent us more snowflakes, letting us know she made it to her everlasting home, where she is forever dancing in the sky.

For the past 14 years Matilda was blessed to live with her eldest daughter, Julianne. They shared time cooking dinners together, relaxing poolside in the company of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and playing cards with friends. Sometimes they sat on their patio together while Matilda would work on some of her paintings or tend to her section of the garden.

Her nurse, Silvia, was not only a caregiver but a true companion as well. They shared a love for books, and sometimes Silvia would come by with homemade baked goods or freshly caught fish from local waters.

She was also fortunate to have had the loving care of her granddaughter-in-law Siobhan, who provided medical guidance over the past 7 years as well as daily help over the past 10 months, ensuring Matilda’s comfort.

Matilda was predeceased by her husband Joseph, her sons John and his stillborn twin, and her daughter Eileen Kelly, married to Patrick.

She is survived by her daughters, Julianne (late Edward) McCann, Claire (Richard) Maresca, and Margaret (Edward) Fitzgerald, as well as her sons, Joseph (Sheila) Fenchak and Gerard (April) Fenchak. She is also survived by her 14 grandchildren (Edward, Kim, Daniel, Jenine, Jacqueline, Christopher, Kristen, Cara, Christopher, Cameron, Josette, Alex, Jeremy and Emily) and her 21 great-grandchildren (Alexandra, Scott, Kristina, Jillian, James, Sean, Brendan, Erin, Julia, Graeme, Daniel, Jacob, Madison, Avery, Colin, Ryan, Morgan, Riley, Edward, Ian and Patrick). She was well loved and always provided unconditional support and love for her family.

A visitation for Matilda will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Quinn - Fogarty Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. Funeral mass Thursday, February 22, 2024, 10:00 AM at St. Andrew Avellino, 35-60 158th Street, Flushing, NY 11358. A committal service to follow at Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers you consider donating in memory of Matilda

Fenchak to the following charities:

American Cancer Society

National MS Society