Belva Matthews

PRINCETON — Belva Joan Matthews, 79, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Heartland Health Care Center in Henry.

Belva was born May 27, 1939, to the late Basil and Elsie (Curtis) Fountain in Canton, N.Y. She married the late Howard C. Matthews on Aug. 27, 1964, at the Methodist church in Herman, N.Y.

She was a graduate of Knox Memorial High School in Russell, N.Y., Class of 1956. She was a supervisor at the St. Lawrence County Meals on Wheels. Belva also worked in the café at the Princeton mushroom factory, as well as managing several restaurants for the owner of the café. She worked at the Care Inn Nursing Home, where she became a certified dietitian. She also worked at Perry Memorial Hospital and ran the kitchen as the dietitian before retiring. After retirement, you could find her at Logan Junior High or Princeton High School as the café manager until 2011. She spent her retirement as a Gold Coat at Perry Memorial and volunteered at the Clark House, assisting in the kitchen.

She was a member of the Princeton Seventh Day Adventist Church in Princeton, and served as treasurer for a time, as well as Sabbath School superintendent. She was a member of the Moose Lodge, the Bureau County Fair Board and The Grange. She loved to cook and go mushroom hunting. She enjoyed camping at Rawlson Lake and a good road trip. Often telling her children and grandchildren, “let's get in the car and just go.” She loved to do puzzles, play cards and word finder. She was an avid crocheter, knitter and embroiderer. Belva enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and most any game show. She was a devout Christian and studied from her Bible on a daily basis. Most of all, she loved to spend time with her family and take care of them.

Belva is survived by two children, Gary (Tammy Chambelain) Matthews and Emily (Russell) Fredrickson; seven grandchildren, Jenny Matthews, Nicole Matthews, Erin (Kevin) Schultz, Kelley (Bruce) Cox, James Bohms, Charles Bohms and Austin Fredrickson; nine great-grandchildren, Zach, Reece, Lexi, Suzanna, Matthew, Allyson, Wyatt, Jade and Caleb; and two brothers, Sonny Fountain and Arnold Fountain.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard Matthews (2010); five brothers, Skeek Fountain, Floyd Fountain, Junior Fountain, Peanut Fountain and Lawrence Fountain; and two sisters, Betty Beachard and Genieva Wood.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at the Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Frendell Reyes officiating. A graveside service will be held in New York at a later date and time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Princeton Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.com.