Anna Matkowski

Parlin Anna Matkowski (Daniow), age 89, of Parlin, peacefully passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at her home with her loving daughter at her side. Born in the rural mountain town, Smoze, Poland, to the late Alexander and Eva Daniow, Anna came of age on her modest family farm. She met Emil, a young man from the neighboring town at a dance and married him soon after. They lived in Soviet-occupied Poland before they were relocated to an ammunition factory in Artyomovsk in central Russia. She would tell stories of hunger and fish-only diets. Flour was so scarce it was sold by the single cup on the black market, “enough for a pancake or two.” Party bosses would walk around with full bellies and the workers had lines and rumors of bread. In 1961, the family immigrated to the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, where she taught herself English and raised her two surviving children in the Catholic faith at St. Brendan’s. The Matkowskis soon naturalized. They lived in Staten Island for many years and she and Emil later retired in Liberty, NY. Mrs. Matkowski was a talented seamstress with Mademoiselle Boutique in Bayonne, as well as many other shops over the years. She was generous with her time and a fixture of her sleepy Catskill town. In her old-world way, she always saw herself as part of a community. She referred to her freelance clients by their profession. “Those pants are for Lawyer,” in her broken English, “and that’s for Doctor’s Wife.” Above all, Anna loved her family. She would cook pierogies and golumpkis for her daughter, Jackie, and her grandchildren whenever she would visit. Two cakes: chocolate and strawberry. She loved to immerse herself in work. Gardening was a passion of hers. In her final years, when arthritis took its toll, she would say, she missed that the most: on the ground, enjoying the simple tasks; feeling useful. Anna is predeceased by her husband of over fifty years, Emil Matkowski, her dear sons, Walter and Michael Matkowski, and her son-in-law, Timothy Cahill. Surviving is her loving daughter Jackie Cahill of Parlin; her 5 grandchildren Christopher Michael Cahill of Parlin, Timothy Michael Cahill of Parlin, William Joseph Cahill of Highland Park, Katie Ann Cahill of Brooklyn, and Kaylyn Ashley Cahill of Parlin; as well as many loving nieces and family members. Funeral services are private to family, following federal guidelines regarding COVID-19. Burial will be private at St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Completed arrangements and letters of condolence to the family may be found by visiting www.maliszewskimemorialhome.com.