Lena M. Matz Hiner, age 99, went home to be with our Heavenly Father on July 14, 2011 at Highfield Masonic Home of Delaware. She was born to Arnold Jossi and Mary [Kropf] Jossi in June 1912 in Louisville, Ohio.
Arnold came to Ohio from Switzerland when he was 21 years old, married Mary, a widow with children, and moved to a farm near Louisville.
Lena outlived all her siblings: brothers - William, Carl, and Ernest Jossi, sister - Bertha Jossi, half-brothers -Cletus and Clement Linder, and half-sister Lucille [Linder] Rufibach.
Lena attended Louisville High School, where she excelled in drama and music. She graduated with honors from Louisville High School in 1930.
After a series of depression-era jobs, Lena married Carl L. Matz on April 30, 1933. They lived in three rooms rented from Carl's Grandma Starkey, in Robertsville, Ohio. They had two sons, John and Robert. Carl was lucky to have a job as an accountant with Brush-Moore Newspapers throughout the 1930's. In 1941 they built a home in Canton, Ohio, where they lived for forty five years.
Lena was an accomplished piano, organ, and saxophone player and teacher. She accompanied and coached John [saxophone] and Robert [cornet] to numereous medals in musical performance competitions. She was a member of the Firemen's Auxiliary, and was Presiding Judge for the Canton Township Board of Elections for twenty years. She also was a talented homemaker and needleworker, especially excelling in crochet and embroidery.
In 1985 they moved to Ashland, Ohio near Robert and his wife Shirley. Lena joined the Ashland Senior Citizens organization, and played piano and keyboard for the "Golden Serenaders". They dressed up and performed for rest homes and other organizations. They put on a show at the Ohio State Fair for twenty five years. She also loved playing cards, especially euchre and pinochle. After 56 years of devoted marriage, her husband Carl died in 1989.
Lena married Arthur D. Hiner March 2, 2001. Tragically, he died only a few days later on March 5, as they were preparing to move to a retirement community.
Lena moved to Wilmington Delaware April 15, 2002 to live with her son John and his wife Suzanne. She joined the Claymont Senior Center and attended regularly for many years. She played piano and organ for them and had fun with their Kazoo band.
Lena had a deep abiding faith. She was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Church and remained steadfast in her faith her entire life.
She is survived by two sons, John Matz of Wilmington Delaware, and Robert Matz and his wife Shirley of Ashland, Ohio. She is also survived by four grandchildren - Sandra McGee and her husband Michael of Austin, Texas , Jeffrey Matz and his wife Jennifer of Valley City, Ohio, Joel Matz and his wife Jennifer of Whipple, Ohio, and Sharon Wright and her husband Craig of Safety Harbor, Florida as well as numerous great grandchildren. She is also survived by the family of Art Hiner.
A celebration of her life will be held at Sanders Funeral Home, 218 East Nassau Street, East Canton, Ohio on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011. Family visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral following at 11:00 am.
www.sandersfuneralhomes.com
Sanders Funeral Home
330-488-0222
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Arnold came to Ohio from Switzerland when he was 21 years old, married Mary, a widow with children, and moved to a farm near Louisville.
Lena outlived all her siblings: brothers - William, Carl, and Ernest Jossi, sister - Bertha Jossi, half-brothers -Cletus and Clement Linder, and half-sister Lucille [Linder] Rufibach.
Lena attended Louisville High School, where she excelled in drama and music. She graduated with honors from Louisville High School in 1930.
After a series of depression-era jobs, Lena married Carl L. Matz on April 30, 1933. They lived in three rooms rented from Carl's Grandma Starkey, in Robertsville, Ohio. They had two sons, John and Robert. Carl was lucky to have a job as an accountant with Brush-Moore Newspapers throughout the 1930's. In 1941 they built a home in Canton, Ohio, where they lived for forty five years.
Lena was an accomplished piano, organ, and saxophone player and teacher. She accompanied and coached John [saxophone] and Robert [cornet] to numereous medals in musical performance competitions. She was a member of the Firemen's Auxiliary, and was Presiding Judge for the Canton Township Board of Elections for twenty years. She also was a talented homemaker and needleworker, especially excelling in crochet and embroidery.
In 1985 they moved to Ashland, Ohio near Robert and his wife Shirley. Lena joined the Ashland Senior Citizens organization, and played piano and keyboard for the "Golden Serenaders". They dressed up and performed for rest homes and other organizations. They put on a show at the Ohio State Fair for twenty five years. She also loved playing cards, especially euchre and pinochle. After 56 years of devoted marriage, her husband Carl died in 1989.
Lena married Arthur D. Hiner March 2, 2001. Tragically, he died only a few days later on March 5, as they were preparing to move to a retirement community.
Lena moved to Wilmington Delaware April 15, 2002 to live with her son John and his wife Suzanne. She joined the Claymont Senior Center and attended regularly for many years. She played piano and organ for them and had fun with their Kazoo band.
Lena had a deep abiding faith. She was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Church and remained steadfast in her faith her entire life.
She is survived by two sons, John Matz of Wilmington Delaware, and Robert Matz and his wife Shirley of Ashland, Ohio. She is also survived by four grandchildren - Sandra McGee and her husband Michael of Austin, Texas , Jeffrey Matz and his wife Jennifer of Valley City, Ohio, Joel Matz and his wife Jennifer of Whipple, Ohio, and Sharon Wright and her husband Craig of Safety Harbor, Florida as well as numerous great grandchildren. She is also survived by the family of Art Hiner.
A celebration of her life will be held at Sanders Funeral Home, 218 East Nassau Street, East Canton, Ohio on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011. Family visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral following at 11:00 am.
www.sandersfuneralhomes.com
Sanders Funeral Home
330-488-0222