Idabells Matos

Idabells Matos, 74, of The Views of Harbortown Marina, Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home on August 1, 2026, after a 17-year long battle fighting breast cancer. Ida was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Angela and Ildefonso Rivera on July 14, 1952. She went to school at Our Lady of Providence Catholic High School, class of 1970. Soon thereafter, Ida started her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, where she met and later married on November 18, 1973, her husband of 53 years, Angel Luis Matos.

Ida received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico (74); a master’s degree in education from Texas Baylor University (83). Ida was an outstanding musician and movingly played the Spanish guitar; she also had an angelical voice and was a member of her school choir both in high school and college. Later, while her husband was serving in the US Army in Germany (79-82), Ida formed part of German Rock Band called "The Strings", and she travelled the entire Bavarian region performing at Clubs, Gasthauses, and military installations.

Ida became a licensed schoolteacher in 1983, teaching English, Spanish, and Music at the elementary and high school levels; in 2002 she was designated as the Director of the DOD Starbase STEM Educational Program for Puerto Rico, until her retirement as an Educator in. 2014. For her efforts at Starbase, the Governor of Puerto Rico presented Ida the National Guard Meritorious Service Award for her efforts teaching, sponsoring, and mentoring underprivileged and at-risk youths. Ida then moved to Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, to be close to her children and grandchildren, but also to receive ongoing breast cancer treatment at Mayo Clinic, which had surfaced in 2009. While volunteering at Mayo Clinic for 5 years, Ida was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, and from that moment forward for the next 6 years, Ida fought against this terrible disease with all her might and became a true warrior and a staunch advocate in the fight against this terrible disease until her passing.

Ida was a noble soul, an exceptional wife, an extraordinary mother and grandmother, and a woman of immense faith and deep religious convictions. She and her husband Angel travelled the world, sailing the seas on 8 different cruises, visiting 5 of the 7 Continents, visiting 32 of the 50 States, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands, thus completing her Bucket List to her satisfaction. Ida's love for her family knew no bounds, especially the untiring love for her 3 boys, their respective wives, and her 6 grandchildren.

Ida will be deeply missed by her husband of 53 years Angel Luis, her 3 sons, Idan Jose, Christian, and Luis Esteban; their wives, Heather, Lisa, and Grace; and six grandchildren, Isabel, Illiana, Mateo, Thiago, Miranda, and Bianca.

A Religious Service and Celebration of Life Ceremony in Ida's honor, will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at The Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens, 1701 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.