Cynthia Ann Matson

Born on November 26, 1943 in Hancock, Michigan, Cindy was the only child of Silas and Anna Israelson. When Cindy was three years old, the family moved from Michigan to Randle, Washington. Cindy met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Matson in high school. They both graduated from White Pass High School in 1961. After graduation, Cindy moved to Seattle, got a job as a file clerk with Northern Life Insurance Company, and was quickly promoted to stenographer. Cindy and Bob were married in Morton, Washington in 1963, and started their married life in Seattle, Washington. They have a son and a daughter.

Cindy continued working at Northern Life Insurance Company until just before her son was born. In 1972, her father died suddenly and her mother came to Seattle to live with her family. They moved to Shoreline, Washington in 1972, where they have lived for over fifty years. Cindy worked part-time as a station manager for the Seattle Times from 1980-1994. When her grandsons were born, Cindy graciously provided daily child care for them from infancy through middle school.

Cindy loved swimming, riding her bicycle, playing board games and card games, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family. She never flew in an airplane, but she enjoyed numerous road trips to Michigan, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, California, and around Washington. After Bob suffered a stroke in 1995, traveling became a challenge, so Cindy and Bob enjoyed events closer to home such as Sounders games, Mariners games, playing Bingo, going to casinos, and attending the Puyallup Fair. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, their children took them on a road trip to Reno and Las Vegas.

Cindy was preceded in death by her parents, Silas and Anna Israelson. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Matson, her son, Jon Matson (wife Mary), her daughter, Liisa Peterson (husband Jon), and two grandsons, Shane Peterson and Ryan Peterson.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Seattle, WA 98155.

Cindy was very proud of her Finnish heritage. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Finlandia Foundation National, “Saving Finland in America”, 254 N. Lake Ave. #852, Pasadena, CA 91101, or online at FinlandiaFoundation.org.