Helen Julia Matus

Helen Julia Matus, of Interlochen, passed away on March 1, 2020; she was 90 years old. She was born on November 7, 1929 to Louis and Margaret (Sipos) Szagedy in Flint, and graduated from Northern High School. In 1950, Helen married Alex Matus and they remained together for the next 64 years.

While Alex worked twelve-hour days to provide for his growing family, Helen remained home and made raising six children look easy. She was a loving mother who instilled good values in her children, teaching them right from wrong, respect for others and even found time to be a Girl Scout Den Mother. Helen was a meticulous housekeeper and, regardless of what kid-created chaos presented itself or long shifts Alex was working, everyone knew to be home when dinner hit the table at 5:05 sharp!

Helen enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and working in her flower garden. When her dazzling talents were displayed in her design of the bushes and flowers that adorned the entrance to their housing subdivision, her neighbors began to refer to her as “flower lady”.

Over the course of her life, Helen would mourn the death of her brother, Eugene, her son, Gary, grandson, Michael and, of course, her beloved husband of 64 years, Alex.

Those who will cherish her memory are children, Richard, Stephen (Kimberly), Mary (Calvin) Springer, Mark (Vona) and Matthew (Tina); grandchildren, Stephen, Jr., Tamara, Jill, Melissa, Andrew, Jenna and Dylan; great-grandchildren, Stephen III, Kyle, Benjamin, Austin, Erik, Lillian, Jaxin and Cameron; great-great-grandchildren, Roman and October.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Traverse City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home, Traverse City.