His passion for excellence was the driving force
Published July 29, 2020
LYNNFIELD — Ernest J. Mattia of Lynnfield passed away suddenly on July 6, 2020.
Ernie was raised in East Boston and was the son of the late Ernest J. and Michelina (Sasso) Mattia. He was the beloved husband of Susan (Kilgore) Mattia of Lynnfield, whom he met at the University of Massachusetts Boston in Italian class. Their mutual interest in the language and culture led to their love and marriage of almost 51 years.
He is also survived by his loving son and best friend, Nicholas Mattia, his fiancée Shauna Akins and his beloved grandchildren, Charlotte and Vincent Mattia. He loved being their “Grampa” and cherished every moment with them.
Ernie also leaves his brother Anthony “Little” Mattia and his wife Marie; his brother-in-law Charles “Skip” Kilgore and his wife Leslie; his sister-in-law Jane (Kilgore) Jenkins and her husband Kenneth; and his sister-in-law Abigail Kilgore. Ernie dearly loved his niece Michelle (Mattia) Wilson and her husband Michael; his nephews Anthony Mattia; Michael Mattia and his wife Jennifer; Charles “Chuck” Kilgore III and his wife Andrea; Daniel Kilgore and his wife Christine; Kenneth Jenkins and his fiancée Marci Bernier; Kevin Jenkins and his partner Sheila Finn; Kristofer Jenkins and his wife Melissa D’Amico; the late Keith Jenkins; and many loving great nieces and nephews and friends.
Ernie was passionate about every aspect of his life. He personified the meaning of his name – serious and sincere in everything he did. He cared deeply about everyone in his life. When he was with you, you were the focus of his heart and attention. Ernie had it figured out. Rich in spirit, full of love, he knew how to enjoy life. He loved learning and researching whatever piqued his interest. He possessed a wealth of knowledge and was always seeking more. From perfecting a recipe to pursuing a healthy lifestyle, his passion for excellence was the driving force. Ernie was the best friend, husband, and father we could ever dream of having. He will be sorely missed, yet he will always be with us. We will smile when we think of him.
At the request of Ernie, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, please honor Ernie with a donation to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements were in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.
