San Mateo

Dea Helen Mattei, 100, of San Mateo, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2022. Dea was born in 1922 to Camilla Bertolini and Gaetano Scalamonti, raised by Ulbaldo Bartoletti in Jessup, Pennsylvania. After Dea graduated from Jessup High School, she went on to work in the local garment industry.

On August 12, 1945, Dea married Aldo Mattei in Milmay, New Jersey after his return from WWII. Soon after, Dea and Aldo moved across the country and settled in San Francisco to be close to Aldo’s family. After purchasing a house in San Mateo, Dea went on to have one son, Donald Mattei in 1955. She was an active member at her church, St.Matthew’s Catholic, as both a parishioner and parent. Dea worked in convalescent care and remained passionate about elder care even into her older years.

Dea or Nonnie, as the younger generations referred to her, was known as an excellent baker and cook. She always provided platters of homemade cookies for countless families to enjoy during Christmas and Easter.

Dea is survived by her son and daughter in-law, Don and Jenny Mattei, her granddaughters and husbands, Valerie Mattei and Joe Polyak and Leah and Alex Loo, and her great grandchildren, Autumn Remotti, AJ Loo, and Nicky Loo. She is survived by many nieces and nephews spanning coast to coast.

Visitation starts at 5pm followed by a Rosary service at 7pm on Monday, October 3rd at Sneider & Sullivan & O’Connell’s Funeral Home, San Mateo. Funeral Mass will be held at 9am on Tuesday, October 4th at St. Matthew Catholic Church, San Mateo. Interment to follow at Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, www.stmatthew-parish.org