Margaret J. Matthews, 84, of Niles died at 6:05AM Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren following a five year illness.

She was born July 22, 1926 in Niles the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Coates Soda.

She attended Niles City Schools as well as The Paramount Cosmotology School of Youngstown and was employed as a secretary for The former Niles Medical Clinic.

Her husband William Matthews whom she married July 5, 1947 died July 14, 1982.

Margaret was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, enjoyed playing bingo but found great joy in cooking and baking chocolate chip cookies and Easter Bread, especially for her grandchildren and family.

Margaret, who was a devoted wife,mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,will be deeply missed by her daughter Rhonda Flanigan and her husband Kenneth, with whom she made her home, a grandson Kenny Flanigan and his wife Stephanie of Niles, a granddaughter Julie McConnell and her husband Jason of Cortland, two great-grandchildren, Kenny and Emma Kate Flanigan. a brother Joseph Soda of Niles, three sisters, Marie Melillo, Lena Nemes, and Della Williams, all of Niles. as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers, James Soda, Jess Soda, and John Soda, and three sisters, Catherine Marino, Celia Shilling, and Rosemarie DeFabio.

Friends may call Thursday from 11AM to 1PM at The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:30PM Thursday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Niles, with Fr. Larry Frient officiating, preceded by a 1PM prayer service at the funeral home.

Friends and family can view this obituary, sign the guestbook, and send e-mail condolences at www.josephrossifuneralhome.