Margaret Matthews, 89, of Jamesburg passed away Sunday, December 18, 2016 at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. She was born in Olyphant PA., where she spent her childhood, later moving to Dunmore, PA. Her father worked in the coal mines and was killed in 1932 when she was four years old and her sister, Catherine, was 7. She was raised by her mother Margaret Sweeney, an immigrant from County Cork, Ireland. Margaret married Edward Phillip Matthews of Maplewood NJ. They met on a blind date immediately following the end of WWII and married in 1950. They celebrated 50 years of marriage and raised seven children in East Brunswick, NJ. Margaret worked as a registered nurse at St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick and then later as head nurse of the Intensive Care Unit of RWJ Hospital. She retired with her husband to Effort, PA, a community in the Pocono mountains, where she worked part time and following Edward's death, volunteered in the community. She moved back to NJ to be closer to her children. She lived at Rossmoor in Monroe, NJ for 12 years. Wherever she lived she was a member of the public library. She loved to read and encouraged others to do the same.

She is preceded in death by her husband Edward P. Matthews; her father, Michael Sweeney; her mother Margaret Sweeney (Power) of Scranton/ Dunmore and her sister, Catherine Ruane of Dunmore. She is survived by all seven of her children, Jane of Darien, CT, Mary of Fairbanks, Alaska, Michael of Sea Girt, NJ, Ed of Jamesburg, NJ, Rich of East Brunswick, NJ, Bill of Piscataway, NJ and Pat of Jackson, NJ; her eight grandchildren, Raven, Kiowa, Michelle, Ellen, Jason, Nat, Nora, Ryan and Amanda and her two great grandchildren, Sagesse and Teagon.

The family wishes to thank all of those who provided care to her at Princeton Hospital, at The Elms rehab, and Parker of Monroe.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later time. Celebrate her life by reading a book and reading to your children.