Obituary for Omer J. Matte
Loving husband, dad, Pepere, and great grandfather
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Omer J. Matte. Born in Lowell, MA, Omer was the son of the late Jeffrey and Florida (Prince) Matte. Omer died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loving family on April 10, 2023 at the age of 95.
Omer was married to the love of his life and best friend, Camille (Labrecque) Matte, who passed away on February 18, 2021. They fell in love as teenagers while working at the Boot Mills in Lowell and would have celebrated 73 years of marriage on April 8th, 2023. Theirs was a love story of the ages that will forever live in our family’s hearts.
Omer attended St. Louis Grammar School as a young boy and graduated from Lowell High School in 1945. He then studied electronics at Lowell University night school where he discovered his love of tinkering and his proficiency for fixing things. He was lovingly known as Mr. Fix It, with skills that enabled him to repair just about anything, leading him to own and operate his own small appliance store in Lowell for many years known as Matte Appliances.
Omer enjoyed a successful career as a tenured Sales Manager at Bon Marche and eventually retired from BTU in Billerica. But for anyone who knew Omer well, he was not one to sit still, so that was not the end of his professional story. He went on to work at the Dracut Senior Center for close to 12 years, where he made some wonderful, lasting friendships and was truly loved by all. It was there that he celebrated his second and final retirement at the age of 85!
Omer was a man of faith with a strong connection to his church and Parish. He was one of the founders of St. Francis Parish in Dracut when it was a small Mission Church. He was active on the Parish Council and was very involved in parish activities such as the famous chicken BBQs and ham and bean suppers. His faith held strong and grounded him and he loved his parish community.
Omer’s family was truly the light of his life. His mantra was always “Family is Everything”. Omer was happiest with his home full of family at holidays, cookouts, birthdays or just for a visit with Pepere. Omer is survived by his daughters, Carol A. Fennell and her husband William of Pepperell, and Lisa J. Matte and Sharon Brox with whom she resides of Tewksbury; his son-in-law, Thomas J. Quinn; and his five loving and devoted grandchildren, Jason Clement and his wife Katie of Pepperell, Courtney Ahearn of Dracut, Lindsay Johnston-Fennell and her spouse Grace Johnston-Fennell of Monroe, ME, Catherine Quinn of Lowell, and Jeffrey Fennell and his partner Ava D’Agostino of Hadley. Omer also leaves his three loving great grandchildren, Max Clement, Ellie Ahearn, and Avery Ahearn, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his beloved wife, Omer is predeceased by his daughter, Denise M. Quinn, who passed away on March 26th, 2018, and his siblings, Paul Matte, Lucien Matte, Charles Matte, Pauline Moisan, Julie Jenkins, and Rita Croteau.
Omer was a humble, kind, and selfless man who was always thinking of others. He was grateful for everything he had, and never missed an opportunity to make people laugh. He had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest each and every day. Omer left a legacy that will live on in our family forever. He taught us how to love unconditionally, be kind to others, and of course, always keep em’ laughing…we will miss him dearly.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, April 14th from 4pm to 7pm at the Dracut Funeral Home, 2159 Lakeview Ave., Dracut. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10am at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 115 Wheeler Rd., Dracut. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford.
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Omer J. Matte. Born in Lowell, MA, Omer was the son of the late Jeffrey and Florida (Prince) Matte. Omer died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loving family on April 10, 2023 at the age of 95.
Omer was married to the love of his life and best friend, Camille (Labrecque) Matte, who passed away on February 18, 2021. They fell in love as teenagers while working at the Boot Mills in Lowell and would have celebrated 73 years of marriage on April 8th, 2023. Theirs was a love story of the ages that will forever live in our family’s hearts.
Omer attended St. Louis Grammar School as a young boy and graduated from Lowell High School in 1945. He then studied electronics at Lowell University night school where he discovered his love of tinkering and his proficiency for fixing things. He was lovingly known as Mr. Fix It, with skills that enabled him to repair just about anything, leading him to own and operate his own small appliance store in Lowell for many years known as Matte Appliances.
Omer enjoyed a successful career as a tenured Sales Manager at Bon Marche and eventually retired from BTU in Billerica. But for anyone who knew Omer well, he was not one to sit still, so that was not the end of his professional story. He went on to work at the Dracut Senior Center for close to 12 years, where he made some wonderful, lasting friendships and was truly loved by all. It was there that he celebrated his second and final retirement at the age of 85!
Omer was a man of faith with a strong connection to his church and Parish. He was one of the founders of St. Francis Parish in Dracut when it was a small Mission Church. He was active on the Parish Council and was very involved in parish activities such as the famous chicken BBQs and ham and bean suppers. His faith held strong and grounded him and he loved his parish community.
Omer’s family was truly the light of his life. His mantra was always “Family is Everything”. Omer was happiest with his home full of family at holidays, cookouts, birthdays or just for a visit with Pepere. Omer is survived by his daughters, Carol A. Fennell and her husband William of Pepperell, and Lisa J. Matte and Sharon Brox with whom she resides of Tewksbury; his son-in-law, Thomas J. Quinn; and his five loving and devoted grandchildren, Jason Clement and his wife Katie of Pepperell, Courtney Ahearn of Dracut, Lindsay Johnston-Fennell and her spouse Grace Johnston-Fennell of Monroe, ME, Catherine Quinn of Lowell, and Jeffrey Fennell and his partner Ava D’Agostino of Hadley. Omer also leaves his three loving great grandchildren, Max Clement, Ellie Ahearn, and Avery Ahearn, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his beloved wife, Omer is predeceased by his daughter, Denise M. Quinn, who passed away on March 26th, 2018, and his siblings, Paul Matte, Lucien Matte, Charles Matte, Pauline Moisan, Julie Jenkins, and Rita Croteau.
Omer was a humble, kind, and selfless man who was always thinking of others. He was grateful for everything he had, and never missed an opportunity to make people laugh. He had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest each and every day. Omer left a legacy that will live on in our family forever. He taught us how to love unconditionally, be kind to others, and of course, always keep em’ laughing…we will miss him dearly.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, April 14th from 4pm to 7pm at the Dracut Funeral Home, 2159 Lakeview Ave., Dracut. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10am at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 115 Wheeler Rd., Dracut. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford.