Virginia Anne Matter

Virginia Anne Holmes Matter, born January 12, 1937, peacefully passed away on November 9, 2025, two months shy of her 89th birthday.
Anne was born in Manila, Philippines where her father was stationed as an army colonel. She delighted in sharing this detail with whomever she met and loved reminiscing about her childhood as an army brat, perpetually moving from place to place, even attending three schools in one year in the fourth grade. This lifestyle formed the basis of who she would become: a strong-willed, authentic, warm, open-minded friend to people from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion, social class, or culture.
Her childhood also provided her with the character, resilience, and fortitude that equipped her to cope with the many challenges she faced as a young mother. She raised three children with grace, strength, and unwavering love. Her joie de vivre, deep spiritual faith, positive attitude, and generosity of spirit imbued all she did throughout a life well-lived.
She cherished her late older sister Joan, who was her constant companion and best friend throughout her life. Although they were very different, they rarely quarreled, and loved one another very deeply.
She was a nurturing, loving, and devoted parent who spent countless hours typing her children's school papers, attending their performances, fostering their interests, leading their scout troops (son and daughters) and volunteering with the troop of her beloved friend and next door neighbor Gail. Anne loved camping and firmly believed that real food like steak for dinner and pancakes for breakfast should be mandatory. She skillfully and willingly would prepare full meals for her family but only after her own breakfast of coffee and toast had been made. She enjoyed this same breakfast for most of her life. She loved reading, camping, singing, playing the piano, traveling, and going to the beach. Despite limited finances she always found a way to introduce nature and adventure into her kids lives including an epic cross country trip to Colorado in a station wagon with a full Igloo cooler and a tent.
Anne graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School in 1954 and persistently and stubbornly insisted that she wished to attend the University of Indiana, ultimately convincing her parents and graduating with a degree in English literature in 1958. Anne's love of books was ever present, and she cultivated a love of reading in her children. Among anything and everything else she had in her purse that might be needed, she always had a book "just in case." Anne's love of reading was only exceeded by her love of music and her love of family. She was a gifted singer and pianist who enjoyed playing her baby grand piano at home as well as playing and performing for Senior Star Showcase which took her to stages throughout the United States. She was an active member in the church choir at Hiss United Methodist Church where she sang alto with joy and gusto. Music made her happy and her gift of singing made others happy.
Anne touched the lives of many with her sense of humor, warmth, and optimism. She had an uncanny ability to connect with anyone and was a beloved sister, daughter, mother, mother-in -law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, neighbor, colleague, and member of her church family.
In addition to being generous with her heart and time, she was a generous donor to varied charities focusing on groups close to her heart: animals, nature, children, and veterans. She was a devoted volunteer at the American Legion and worked tirelessly on the scholarship committee.
Besides her beautiful voice, Anne was perhaps best known for her secret-recipe iced tea, a "must have" at every crab feast, cookout, holiday, celebration, and trips to Cacapon State Park and Ocean City. Like Anne, it was one of a kind, imitated but never replicated. Anne's life was a rich tapestry filled with much love, and she was grateful for it. Her proudest accomplishment and greatest joy though was being a mom, something she reminded her children of until her last days.
The love of her life, Henry "Hank Matter, predeceased her by many years as did her daughter Debbie. She is survived by her three children Bill, Kathy and Vicki, her son-in-law Rich, her 5 grandchildren Alexis, Jeremy, Katie, Lindsay and Chloe, 3 great grandchildren Kellen, Jackson and Lincoln, as well as many nieces and nephews as well as her beloved grand-dog Hershey. Anne's beautiful voice was a source of joy and comfort to all who knew her. She is now singing with the angels and is already greatly missed. Her memory and her melody will live in our hearts forever.
Anne's life will be celebrated at memorial service on November 17, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Hiss United Methodist Church. A light luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne's honor to Hiss United Methodist Church, BARCS, or the Alzheimer's Association. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia, please visit our floral store.