Matthew M. Hoenig

Hoenig, Matthew M.

Matthew M. Hoenig, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 in Walnut, California. He died at his home after a long illness. His loving wife, Loretta, was by his side.
Matthew was born on August 13, 1923 in Webster, Massachusetts. Son of Matthew and Annette Hoenig, he was raised in Massachusetts with his two sisters Jacqueline and Annette. He graduated St. Louis High School in Webster, Massachusetts.
After returning from service with the U.S Marine Corps in WWII, he completed his law degree from Boston College. Matthew married his high school sweetheart, Loretta Filipiski on June 11, 1945 in Webster, Massachusetts. After the birth of his first two daughters he moved his family to California where his next two daughters and son were born. They bought their first home in Sacramento where many happy years were spent nurturing a growing family and a small orchard.
Matthew earned a Bronze Medal and Purple Heart for his service in WWII. He served in the United States Marine Corps, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was Honorably discharged after being wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
He worked as a government contract negotiator in the aerospace industry and for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1986.
Immersed in the Catholic Jesuit tradition, he was active in the parishes of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Sacramento and at St. Lorenzo in Walnut, California since 1991.
Matthew was a lover of the arts: literature, film and music throughout his lifetime.
He is survived by his wife Loretta and their five children, Susan Slight-Macartney (Phil), Donna Hoenig-Couch (Patrick ), Mary Hoenig, Marta Laakso and Matthew P. Hoenig, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Both rosary and funeral service will be held at Queen of Heaven Chapel in Rowland Heights. The rosary is at 6:30 pm on Wednesday November 2, and the funeral service will be held on Thursday November 3 at 10:30 am.
The family is grateful to community, friends and clergy. A special thanks to the VITAS Hospice team who so lovingly cared for Matthew and our family, and most of all to his steadfast caregiver of three years, Geraldine Perez.
Memorial donations in honor of Matthew M. Hoenig may be made to the PCC Foundation, Veterans Scholarship and Emergency Fund. To donate, please email marta.laakso@pcc.edu.