Matilda "Tillie" (Staniulionis) Stundza

Matilda Jadvyga (Staniulionis) Stundza, age 98, of Lawrence, MA died Monday, May 25, 2020, at the Nevins Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Methuen.

She was the daughter of Vincas Staniulionis and Morta Barauskaite, who were born in Bakaloriskes and Ilgininkai, Lithuania. Matilda was born in Bentleyville, PA and raised in Newton Falls, Ohio, where she finished school and later met her husband to be, John, while he was in training for the war. They were married in 1943 and later resided in Lawrence. She worked for the Pacific Mills – Building #5 until its closing, then the Lanam Club of Andover and later in the Lawrence School system until her retirement.

She is predeceased by John, her husband of 63 years, her son Thomas, and also her brother Joseph Stanulonis and sister Mary Blaskis, both of Ohio. She is survived by her sons William and Jonas and her sister-in-law Amelia, all of Lawrence, plus her nieces and nephew, all of Ohio.

She was a lover of nature and an avid gardener. She and John enjoyed the coastline, especially the Northshore. She maintained her mother’s traditional old world recipes throughout the years and was known for her traditional Easter egg display, which numbered over a thousand. She worked relentlessly for the success of the annual Lithuanian Independence Day, in its planning to its final clear up in the kitchen. Matilda was never afraid to work or give a helping hand.  She was a devout and pious Catholic with a strong devotion to our Lady of Vilnius-"Ausros Vartu Marija", in Latin Mater Misericordiae.

She was an active member of the Lithuanian St. Anne’s Benevolent Society, The Lithuanian Women’s Citizens Club, Knights of Lithuania, Lithuanian American Council, the Lawrence History Center and the Lawrence Senior center. She was a parishioner of St. Laurence O’Toole and St. Francis Lithuanian Parish until their forced closings, and later of St. Mary’s Parish. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary at Holy Rosary parish.

A funeral service will be held Friday, May 29, 2020, at 11:00 AM at the family lot in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 29 Barker Street, Lawrence. Burial will follow. Friends are asked to observe proper social distancing at the service. There will be no calling hours due to gathering restrictions. A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 4:00 PM in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Hampshire St., Lawrence, MA 01840 for the family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Matilda’s memory to the Nevins Nursing Center, 10 Ingalls Ct, Methuen, MA 01844 or to the Lithuanian National Foundation, 307 West 30th St., New York, NY 10001.

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