May 5, 2008     

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Mary R. Matos, 92, 167 Flower Ave. East, died Sunday, May 4, at Samaritan Keep Home, where she had been a resident since March 2008.

Born July 4, 1915, in Koula, Turkey, a daughter of George and Helen Calender Ronson, she came to the United States at the age of seven through Ellis Island. She graduated from Watertown High School. 

She married Peter Matos in Oct. 1935 in Watertown. He died in September 1965. 

In the early 1940s, the couple operated the California Fruit Market in Malone. Mrs. Matos was employed with the Uniform Shop, her family wholesale grocery and her husband's soda shop next to the Olympic Theater on State Street. The couple owned and operated the C&D Shop in the early 1960s.

Mrs. Matos was a member of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church. She was a member of the Philoptochos, the ladies society of the church, that operated the bi-annual Greek Pastry Sale.

Surviving are two sons and their wives, Rev. Father Christos and Stavroula, Palm Harbor, Fla., and Dennis and Barbara, Alexandria, Va.; five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Three brothers Dr. Chris Ronson, Louis Ronson and Nicholas Ronson died before her. 

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at the D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc. A Trisagion prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with a 11 a.m. funeral service to follow at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church with Fr. Phillip Yanulis officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery. 

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 516 Franklin St. Watertown, N.Y. 13601.





Information provided by D.L. Calarco Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.