Cheryl A. Matta Obituary
With a heavy heart, we are saddened to announce the sudden death of our dear mother, wife, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Cheryl Ann (Gaspar) Matta on Sunday, April 9th, 2023.
Cheri was born at Beverly Hospital on September 21, 1957. Raised by her parents in Gloucester, Cheri was one of four close siblings who spent countless summers growing up on Long Beach. She attended Gloucester High School, graduating in the class of 1975, where she was a Sawyer Medal recipient for Outstanding Achievement in Academics, as well as an award winner for fastest typing.
Upon graduating high school, Cheri moved to California and worked in financial planning. She spent time in Lake Tahoe, skiing, as well as summers at the beach in Carlsbad.
Dance was a huge aspect of Cheri's life, and she was not only a beautiful dancer herself, but an established instructor in the local community. She won numerous awards for various types of dance, was a national ballroom champion, and taught jazzercise throughout the 80's and 90's.
Cheri's professional career included time at various law firms throughout Cape Ann, assisting her step-daughter with the opening of her restaurant in Gloucester, and most recently, her 20+ years as an Executive Administrative Assistant at Varian/Applied Materials.
If you knew Cheri, she was the kindest person you would ever meet, full of love, life, and energy. She was pure of heart; always embracing those who needed her. Cheri was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. Family was of the utmost importance to her, and she always made sure to spend as much time as possible with them.
Cheri and her husband enjoyed spending time at the beach, walking their beloved cocker-spaniel, Rocky, down the fish pier, coasting down the Annisquam River on their boat, or going out for a ride on their motorcycle. They liked to travel, whether it was for a weekend in Boston or for a further getaway.
Most recently, Cheri spent an enormous amount of time with her two grandchildren. They meant the world to her, and she was always engaging in crafts, games, dancing, playing in the sand, watching fireworks, or going to the bowling alley. She loved them dearly and was a huge part of their lives.
In addition to her loving husband, Paul Matta, Cheri leaves her son, Christopher Fleming and wife Caroline Fleming, her two grandchildren, Adelyn Fleming and Asher Fleming, her sister, Karen (Gaspar) Ercolani and husband Stephen J. Ercolani, her sister-in-laws Carlene Gaspar, Beth (Matta) Whittemore and her husband Larry Whittemore, Anna (Matta) Lynch and husband Bob Lynch, her nieces Karissa (Ercolani) Ulrich and husband Greg Ulrich, Kimberly (Ercolani) LaCroix and husband Chris LaCroix, Nicole (Gaspar) Gibbons and husband Jesse Gibbons, her nephews, Ryan Whittemore and wife Kaitlin (Guardino) Whittemore, Brett Whittemore, her stepdaughters, Kelly (Fleming) LaRosa and Erin Fleming, her great nephews, Jacob LaCroix and Ethan Gibbons, her great nieces, Keira Ulrich, Madison LaCroix, Isla Ulrich, and Merida Ulrich and her stepgrandson, Brody LaRosa.
Cheri joins her mother Pearl (Bartlo) Gaspar, her father Silvario Gaspar, her brothers, Kevin D. Gaspar and SIlvario "Buddy" Gaspar, her maternal grandparents, Manuel L. Bartlo and Alice Bartlo, her paternal grandparents, Joaquin and Elvira Gaspar, and her aunt and uncle, Oscar and Dorothy Hayes.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, April 16, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester, on Monday, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are all cordially invited to attend.
A Celebration of Life will directly follow at the Elks Lodge, 97 Atlantic Road, Gloucester.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Cheri's memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
