Lifelong Carlisle resident Jean Eyler Mattesky died Sunday, August 13th at her home. Her sons were at her side.  She was 94.

The daughter of the late Edward A. and Sophia A. (Norris) Eyler, Jean was born January 6, 1923 and was the widow of Alexander F. Mattesky who died in 2005. They were married for 56 years.

After her graduation from Carlisle High School in 1940, Jean was employed by The Evening Sentinel as a proofreader.  She also wrote a popular column for The Sentinel about the activities of Carlisle families and social events in the community.  Jean left the newspaper in the early 1950s to raise her two sons.  When they were teenagers, Jean returned to work at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s offices in Carlisle and Harrisburg.  She retired from PennDOT in 1984.

Jean was active in many community organizations, including the Carlisle Civic Club, the Cumberland County Historical Society, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Carlisle American Little League and Meals on Wheels where she served as a board member and for many years delivered meals to those shut-in or otherwise in need. 

Jean was a longtime member of St. Patrick Catholic Church where she participated in a number of activities including the Christian Family Movement where she and her husband met many close friends.  She also was a den mother for the church’s Cub Scout troop.

An avid swimmer, Jean swam several times a week for decades and took water aerobics classes into her 90s.  Her love of the water began as a child at her family’s Meadowbrook cottage along the Conodoguinet Creek and continued into her adult years at Laurel and Fuller lakes, the Carlisle Swim Club and the YMCA.

Jean also loved her hometown and was very proud of her family’s roots in Carlisle which trace to before The Revolutionary War.

Survivors include her two sons, Thomas A. Mattesky of Alexandria, Va.; Stephen E. (and wife Kitty) Mattesky of New Orleans, La.; granddaughters Molly (and husband Arthur) Sanders, Emma Mattesky, Madeleine Mattesky and great-granddaughter Eyler Sanders all of New Orleans.  Jean was predeceased by a brother, Lt. Col. Carl G. Eyler (USAF).

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2017 in the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Dr., Carlisle, with Rev. William C. Forrey officiating.  A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until time of services in the Church Activity Center.  Burial will follow in the Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle.  A time of fellowship will be held at the church following the burial.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick Church, 152 E. Pomfret St, Carlisle, Pa. 17013.  Ewing Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.