Lela Janice (Mears) Matarrese, 94, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away Saturday, December 22, 2018 at The Willows at Fritz Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Janice was born in West Frankfort, Illinois on November 7, 1924 to the late Carey Wayne “Cotton” Mears and Lela (Vaught) Poland. She spent her many single years living in Chicago and working downtown.
Janice eventually married and moved back to Evansville to raise her son and care for her mother, pursuing her career to make that possible. … Read More » Later in life she moved to Lexington, KY to be near her son, Scott and her daughter-in-law, Jenny. Janice was a talented piano player and played professionally as a young woman.
She loved boating, watching her Chicago Cubs, traveling, riding her John Deere, and spending as much time as she could with family and friends. She immensely enjoyed excelling in a male dominated profession and being able to use her connections to find employment for everyone she possibly could. She loved dogs and rescued many strays over the years, was President of the Goodwill Women’s Auxiliary, and supported the VFW.
Janice was a long time member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Evansville. She loved Father Steve and during retirement volunteered at St Mary’s helping with the food bank, soup kitchen, and many other things. She was proclaimed a lifetime member of the Brute Society which recognizes outstanding models of Christian stewardship by Bishop Gettelfinger.
She was also a member of the Transportation Club of Evansville, Northside Business Association, the Petroleum Club, and Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity. Janice is survived by her son, Carl Scott Matarrese of Lexington, KY; daughter-in-law, Jenny Rae Matarrese of Lexington, KY; brother, Kenneth D. Mears and his wife Bettye of Evansville, IN; granddaughter, Amber Worman of Louisville, KY; nephews Carey W. Mears and Tracey D. Mears, her beloved dogs, Romeo and Lily, and a large extended family. Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Carl William Matarrese; by her parents; and by a brother, Carey Wayne Mears.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM on Friday, December 28, 2018 at the Locust Hill Cemetery Mausoleum, 3800 Kratzville Rd. , Evansville, IN 47710 with Father Stephen P. Lintzenich officiating. Entombment will follow at Locust Hill Cemetery Mausoleum.
Friends may visit from 9:00 AM until service time at the cemetery on Friday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vanderburgh Humane Society, 400 Millner Industrial Dr., Evansville, IN 47710, to Sts. Mary and John Parish, 613 Cherry St., Evansville, IN 47713, or to Evansville Goodwill, 500 S. Green River Rd.
, Evansville, IN 47715. The family would express to express our deepest gratitude to Morning Pointe and The Willows at Fritz Farm both in Lexington for their excellent and compassionate care during mom’s final years. Condolences may be made online at www.
browningfuneral.com.
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