Barbara M. Matthys

The family of Barbara M. Matthys wishes to announce the peaceful passing of their much beloved wife, mother, and grandmother in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 16, 2022. Barbara was 86 years old. In recent years, she and her husband moved in with their daughter and family in Chino Hills so they could assist with their daily affairs and personal care. Battling declining health, she had just returned home from a recent hospitalization and rehabilitation stay. Barbara and family were so thankful that she returned home with loved ones long enough to express their affections and receive her blessings before her passing. She was a strong woman of faith in Christ and always very thankful for her life. Born in Sweden in 1936, Barbara was just 6 years old when her and her brother immigrated to America aboard a ship to New York, being re-introduced to their parents after several years of separation. Much later, the hard-working family would relocated to sunny California where Barbara would attend a vocational nursing program, choosing an occupation that would address the needs of others. She became a Kaiser employee but a few years after her child was born, her husband would take a job in Illinois and she left nursing to raise their daughter. Escaping the unfavorable weather of the mid-west, they would come to Southern California and Barbara eventually returned to nursing at Claremont Manor, where she oversaw the disbursement of medications for its patients and residents. Not missing an opportunity to return to Kaiser, Barbara joined the clinic on I Street in Ontario where she enjoyed giving her best professional and personal attention to fellow medical staff and patients alike and cherished their family-like atmosphere among employees. She was once awarded Employee of the Year, and retired at age 70 with over 26 years of Kaiser Service. She is survived by her husband Melvyn, daughter Kristine MacKenzie, son-in-law Colin MacKenzie, granddaughters Aryn MacKenzie and Lauryn MacKenzie, a brother and sister-in-law in Southern California, an older brother and sister-in-law in Northern California as well as nieces and nephews near and overseas, and a younger brother with his family in Estacada, Oregon. Barbaras husband served his country in the Korean War conflict and 42 years in the Naval Reserves. Barbara will be interred at the Riverside National Cemetery.