Dolores Ellen Matthews

She was the heart of our family, bringing warmth and love into our lives.

Born in San Francisco, California, to the late Andrew Cotton and Marie Connolly, Dee was a graduate of Burlingame High School. She dedicated her professional life to educating special needs children through her work with the San Jose Unified School District. Her passion for teaching extended beyond the classroom, as a tutor to neighborhood children and Sunday school teacher. Dee was happiest when she was working in her garden, dancing to Motown music, or spending time surrounded by her family and friends. She was devoted to her church communities, finding great fellowship and faith over the years at First Covenant Church San Jose and Bayside Church. She was known above all for her generous and kind spirit, and her home was always open to all and filled with laughter.

Her legacy of love and service lives on through her family. She joins in heaven her parents, her sister Patricia Sherry, and her brother Andrew Cotton.

She is survived and will be deeply missed by her husband of 52 years, Bernard (Bud) Matthews, and her children: Cindy Nigos and her partner Kathy Simms, Ryan Matthews and his partner Shawna Verrette Marino, and Kevin Matthews and his wife Sara. She was the proud grandmother to Nicki, Joey, Ben, Emily, Nathan, Dominic, and Andre, and the great-grandmother to Jax and Lenix. She is also fondly remembered by her niece Kim Madsen, her nephew Tom Sherry, her grandniece Dana Simpson, and her grandnephew Thomas Sherry.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a future date.