Madeline "Halt" Matakonis

Madeline H. Matakonis (nee Halt), age 85, of Mount Laurel, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026 while surrounded by her loving her family.

Madeline was born and raised in West Philadelphia, PA to the late Frank and Mary Halt and has previously resided in Riverside, NJ before her current residence of 22 years in Mount Laurel. She worked in Accounts Payable for Reliance Insurance before her retirement in 2006. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Peter's Church in Riverside before joining Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Hainesport, NJ. In her free time, Madeline enjoyed reading, crocheting and taking care of her plants. She was a kind soul who put her crochet skills to good use by creating blankets for new babies in local hospitals. But above all else, Madeline loved spending time with her family. She grew up in a large family, with 8 siblings, and one of her greatest joys was gathering with the extended Halt family for Thanksgiving every year. Whether you knew her as Madeline, Mad, or Madge, you were always in for a treat with her signature rice pudding recipe whenever she visited. She is very loved and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.

Madeline is survived by her beloved son, Michael Matakonis (Melanie); her cherished siblings, Rosalie Sminkey, and Joseph Halt; her treasured grandchildren, Olivia and Gracyn Matakonis; and her many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, close friends and neighbors.

She is reunited with her predeceased husband, Frank Matakonis, and her siblings, Marjorie Crawford, Joanne Murphy, Mary Cassidy, Bernadette Halt, Frank Halt, and Gerald Halt.

Relatives and friends are welcome to her visitation on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 9:00-10:00AM and her funeral mass immediately following at 10:00AM. Both will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 1603 Marne Hwy, Hainesport, NJ 08036. Inurnment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery in Riverside, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Madeline's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or WRTI Temple University Radio (donate.wrti.org