Colleen Mattei

Colleen Mattei, 60, of Washington Township NJ, passed away peacefully at St. Lukes, Bethlehem Hospital in Bethlehem, PA on June 1, 2018 with her family by her side. Colleen was born on October 24, 1957 in Plainfield, NJ to the late Robert and Valda Byrne. She previously resided in Basking Ridge, NJ where she met the love of her life, Larry Mattei. Upon their marriage, they moved to Washington where they have resided for the past 32 years. Colleen was employed as a teacher’s aide at Port Colden Elementary School for 20 years prior to her retirement this year. She was of the Catholic faith. Colleen was a talented equestrian in her younger years. She entered and won many competitions. She was an avid reader and enjoyed social media particularly Facebook. She was a NY Yankees fan and enjoyed floating in her pool. She could not wait for the warm weather to come so she could relax in the pool. She was an animal lover and often said if she won the lottery she would open her own shelter. Above all, she loved her family and treasured every moment spent with them. She is survived by her devoted husband, Larry Mattei, her loving son, Robert Vincent Mattei, 2 brothers, Jimmy Byrne and his wife Annmarie and Willie Byrne and his wife Katherine. Her caring in laws, Vincent and Marianne Mattei, her brother in law, Vincent Mattei and his wife Sharon and her sister-in-law Lori Quinn and her husband Dave. And many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother Robert Byrne. Family and friends may pay their respects on Thursday June 7, 2018 from 10-11:30 AM at Warren Hills Memorial Home 234 West Washington Ave., Washington, NJ. A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 11:30 in the funeral home. Cremation will be private In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Colleen’s name to Common Sense for Animals, PO Box 589, Broadway, NJ 08808, http://www.commonsenseforanimals.org/