Reberta Matsen

Lifelong Staten Islander Reberta E. Matsen, 84, of Rossville, a homemaker who was �devoted to her family, died Monday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.

Born and raised in Travis, she graduated from Tottenville High School.Mrs. Matsen also lived in Pleasant Plains before settling in Rossville in 1946.

She loved to travel and had visited Aruba, California and Florida. She also enjoyed gardening, crocheting, doing aerobics and cooking Sunday dinner for her family.

Mrs. Matsen volunteered on behalf of the Leukemia Society for six years and also volunteered for St. Jude's Charity.

She was very disciplined and strong, and she taught her children to be independent and hardworking, her family said.

Mrs. Matsen was preceded in death by her son, Brian, last month, and her daughter, Lila Montalbano, in January.

Surviving are her sons, John, Robert and Michael; her daughters, Linda Rasmussen, Sheila Brown, Debra Picone, Cheryl Matsen-Nieves, Brenda Numis, Jill Paramithis and Colleen Matsen; 22 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Friday at 11 a.m. in Bethel United Methodist Church, followed by burial in the church cemetery, both Tottenville. Arrangements are being handled by the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, also Tottenville.

Services: Bethel Church Friday, May 9, 2014 11:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Thursday, May 8, 2014 2-5 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Bethel Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Bethel United Methodist Church