Obituary of Elsa Matthys

For those unable to attend, the family invites you to watch the livestream of the Mass of Christian Burial for Elsa "Angie" Matthys on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Please CLICK HERE

We are saddened to announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Elsa Marie “Angie” Matthys (nee De Zutter) on Monday, August 26, 2024 in her 101^st year while a resident of Hillcrest Place Personal Care Home, Brandon, Manitoba.

Angie was born on January 15, 1924 at her family home on a farm at Sint-Laurens in the Flanders region of Belgium.  She was the only child born to her father, Emile De Zutter and her mother, Alice Haers.  A premature baby, she was bundled and cared for by her maternal grandmother who held her to keep her warm and healthy in the weeks that followed.  Angie’s mother tragically died when Angie was 4 and she was lovingly raised by her father and his 2^nd wife, Irma.  Angie attended private school studying in French and Flemish and assisted her parents with chores, caring for the livestock & gardens, and developing an early love for animals and flowers.

Cheerful and social by nature, she travelled to local events often by bicycle. At one such event in her late teens, Angie noticed a handsome young man looking for a seat and she waved him over and invited him to sit beside her.  He introduced himself as Arnold Matthys and the rest became history. They married in 1946.  Their young family grew with the arrival of Anita and Rudi in the years that followed.

Arnold was a farmer with wanderlust. Wanting the best future for his family, he sought opportunity to immigrate abroad. After first considering the Belgian Congo, he decided on Canada. The family departed Europe aboard the Maasdam ocean liner in 1953 arriving at Halifax’s Pier 21immigration shed, now site of Canada’s Museum of Immigration.  The family continued west by train settling in southwestern Manitoba where Arnold managed a dairy farm. Their 3^rd child, Sonja, arrived in January 1958 as the first Canadian-born member of the Matthys family.  That same year, the family bought a farm north of Manitou, MB where they made their living for the next two decades. Arnold suffered a stroke in 1980 and he and Angie relocated to the Village of Manitou.  For the next 18 years, they divided their time between Manitou and their winter home in Edinburg / McAllen district of south Texas. Arnold died in 2002 and Angie relocated once again to Brandon, MB where she benefitted from the care of her daughter, Anita & son-in-law, Luc, who lived near the city. They were instrumental in enabling Angie to live independently until age 97. Angie enjoyed regular visits from her son, Rudi, and daughter-in-law, Bev from Winnipeg, as well as her daughter, Sonja, and son-in-law Ralph from Ottawa.

As the years passed, she continued to take great joy in her dogs and flowers.  Angie and Harley, a tiny but spirited four-legged companion were inseparable.  Her love of flowers was apparent by the many hanging baskets in her yard during the summer and indoor floral arrangements in the winter. Angie's favourite programs were the Veterinary segments on National Geographic (The Incredible Dr. Pol) as well the news and weather.  We quickly learned to time our daily conversations with Angie (Mom) so as not to interfere with the evening news.  She was up on current events and the latest weather reports. She was blessed with a memory and mind like a steel trap.

Following a serious illness, Angie moved to Hillcrest Place Personal Care Home in Brandon in 2021 where she has enjoyed excellent care for the past 3 ½ years. 

Blessed with a strong will and independent spirit, Angie became known as “the Iron Woman” due to her ability to overcome ailments even during the pandemic. Her resilience was no doubt reinforced by the challenges she overcame during WW2 in Belgium where enemy soldiers occupied her family farm helping themselves to livestock and produce, and while Arnold was a POW working on a farm in Germany.  

Angie’s family were grateful to celebrate her 100^th birthday with her at Hillcrest Place with Anita, Rudi, Sonja, a couple dozen grandchildren and great grandchildren travelling there to mark her milestone. Angie, with her sweet tooth, particularly loved the cake!

A life with love is a life that's been lived

We love you, Mom…xo

Angie was predeceased by her husband, Arnold (2002).

Angie is survived by her daughter, Anita (Luc), son Rudi (Bev), daughter Sonja (Ralph), grandchildren, Cindi (Brian), Angela (Mike), Randy (Deanna), Shelley (Bill), Shannon (Charles), Chelsea (Mike), Tim (Jenn), and great grandchildren, Taylor, Ashlyn (Bryce), Austin, Kyle, Brady, Cole, Ryan, Kelsey, Makenna, Ayden, Elle, Cole, Finnley and Charleigh.

The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff and health professionals at Hillcrest Place, who cared for Angie so thoughtfully and professionally these past few years.

Visitation will take place from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Brockie Donovan Funeral Home, 332 8^th Street, Brandon, MB.

 Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 am on Friday, August 30, 2024 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, 327 Fourth Street, Brandon with a reception to follow at the church.  Interment will be at St. Leon Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Leon, Manitoba later that day.