Ethel Mattson

Genevieve Ethel (Kavanagh) Mattson, age 85, of Atwater and formerly of Willmar, died Friday morning, Jan. 18, at the Sunnyview Manor in Atwater. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. with Parish Prayers at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, Jan. 21, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Genevieve "Gen" Ethel Mattson was born on November 6, 1922, in Nevis, Minnesota, the son of Peter and Ethel (Smith) Kavanagh. She grew up in Nevis, was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church and graduated from Nevis High School in 1940. On June 3, 1944, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar, she was married to Russell Mattson and they made their home in Willmar. Gen worked as a cook at numerous restaurants throughout Willmar and also cooked for the priests at St. Mary's for a number of years. She also worked as a foster grandparent for a few years. Her compassion led her to a life of service to others. Gen was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and in 1994, she received the Bishop's Medal of Service. Gen enjoyed numerous activities like reading, fishing, playing cards and board games, rummage sales and cooking. She especially enjoyed being with her family and friends and was very proud to be Irish. Gen died last Friday morning at the Sunnyview Manor in Atwater where she has lived since December of 2005. She attained the age of 85 years, 2 months and 12 days.
She is survived by her five children, Stephen (and Diane) Mattson of Columbia Heights, Mary (and David) Heen of Clara City, Susan Cantor of St. Louis Park, Jim Mattson of St. Louis Park and Anne (and John) Nelson of Elk River; eight grandchildren, Paul (and Kristin) Mattson, Jill (and Dave) Tuchtenhagen, Melissa (and Brian) Peterson, Kristin Nelson, Jennifer (and John) Caswell, Remo Mattson, Heidi (and Jesse) Olson and Nic Thissen and ten great grandchildren, Anna and Emily Peterson, Jordyn and Ryan Tuchtenhagen, Sam and Sydney Mattson, Baby Caswell and Mackenzie, Kendyl and Degan Olson. Also surviving is a sister, Beatrice Moore of Washington, besides several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; seven siblings; her husband, Russell in 1983; an infant daughter; one grandson, Jeffrey in 1991 and one son-in-law, Tony Cantor in 2006.