Obituary of William George Matyola
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of William George Matyola who passed away in his home on November 10th, 2023, surrounded by his family.
In May of 1934, William was born to Charles and Mary Matyola in Mount Hope, New Jersey. He was raised there alongside his 8 siblings and graduated from Rockaway High School. After high school William (Bill) went on to join the United States Army where he proudly served for four years. Not long after his return from the Army, he joined the Rockaway Township Police Department. A matchmaking colleague of Bill’s arranged a blind date with his beautiful young niece named Marianne. It was love at first sight and Bill knew almost instantly that she was the woman he would spend forever with!The blind date, set up by Marianne’s Uncle Al took place in January, and soon thereafter in May, Marianne had an engagement ring on her finger! Later that same year, and just a few days shy of Marianne’s 19th birthday, the couple were married on October 1, 1960. They shared 63 years of love together and raised 4 wonderful daughters. Bill’s love for his wife only grew with time, and it blossomed into an unending true love story. Following her stroke, Bill never left his bride’s side, tirelessly caring for Marianne until she was called home to be with the Lord on August 9, 2023.
Throughout his life, Bill’s priority and focus was ensuring his 5 “girls” were loved and taken care of. On top of raising his family, Bill was an incredibly hard worker. Waking up at the crack of dawn, he drove a school bus for the Rockaway Township School District for 50 years! He also worked in the evenings repairing and welding school buses for the township.The pinnacle of Bill’s career focused on protecting and servingthe community of Rockaway Township. For over 38 years, he proudly served as a member of the Rockaway Township Police Department, culminating his career as the Deputy Chief of Police. His passion and dedication to keeping his community safe will be remembered for years to come.
It’s hard to believe that Bill had any free time to spend outside of family and work, but when he was able to take some time to himself, he indulged in the things he loved. He would travel the world with his wife, taking her to locations all the way from Norway to Alaska and Hawaii. He also enjoyed golfing, watching his favorite sports on TV, and going bowling with his friends. Bill was a proud member of the Sons of Norway and the Nor Bu Lodge #427. When Bill was blessed with grandchildren, “Opu” would be found at their sporting events, showering them with cheers, love, and support. Most importantly was Bill’s love for the Lord, and he held tightly onto his faith for his entire life. In childhood, he attended mass at St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, and in his later years, along with Marianne and his fourdaughters, he attended Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Telemark.
Bill left an indelible mark on the lives of so many people and though we are deeply saddened by the loss of such an incredible man, we take comfort in knowing that he is reunited with those who passed before him; his beloved wife, Marianne Matyola, his parents, Charles and Mary Matyola, as well as many of his siblings. It is now that we look to the loved ones he leaves behind to carry on his legacy of love and care. William is survived by his four daughters, Lisa Macrae and her husband Tim, Dawn DeWitt and her husband Frank, Jennifer Storer, Krista McKernan and her husband Rob, his grandchildren, Logan Macrae, Kyle Macrae (Emily), Hailey Macrae, Olivia DeWitt, Aidan DeWitt, Ansley DeWitt, Annika Storer, Laurel Storer, Nora McKernan, his sister, Pauline Fortune, as well as a wealth of friends, neighbors, and coworkers who will remember him fondly.
If you would like to contribute to Bill’s memory, please consider making a charitable contribution to the ASPCA; an animal welfare organization that Bill had a particular soft spot for in life. Memorial donations can be made via inmemof.org.
Hours of public visitation for William are scheduled for 4to 8 PM on Thursday, November 16th, 2023, at Norman Dean Home for Services. A funeral service will be held the following day, Friday, November 17th, at 10 AM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, located on Green Pond Road in Rockaway. Interment will follow immediately after the service at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum located on Ridgedale Avenue in East Hanover. All are welcome to come and celebrate the life of this incredible man! Please leave a condolence, share a memory, or light a candle to allow Bill’s light to continue to shine!
