Obituary for Margarita Matiz (Vargas)
Margarita Matiz
December 19, 1936 - June 27, 2021
Margarita (Margoth) Matiz (née Vargas) died on June 27, 2021 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Margarita was the daughter of Virgilio Vargas and Blanca Maria Parada, both deceased. She is survived by her five children, Mauricio Matiz (Laura), Esperanza Matiz, Maria del Pilar Matiz, Mireya Matiz-Gihwala (Ramesh), Ernesto Matiz (Christine), all with her former husband, Alvaro Bernardo Matiz (deceased). She is further survived by twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Margarita was born near the town of Támara, Colombia, in a part of the country known as Los Llanos. She and her four siblings, Fernando Vargas (deceased), Maria Cristina Ortiz, Jorge Vargas, and Enrique Vargas, lived in various towns, including Albán and Arbeláez, finally settling in Bogotá. There, she married in 1956, starting a family that would quickly grow to five children in five years.
She began a new life in 1967 when she and her children emigrated to Astoria, Queens, joining her husband, who had arrived earlier. In Astoria, she dedicated her life to raising the children, instilling education as their number one priority. Roots in Astoria grew when the families of her sister-in-law, Cecilia Matiz (Guillermo Chemas), and brother-in-law, Enrique Matiz (Luz Amalia, both deceased) also immigrated there. Those connections and friendships with other Colombian families gave shape to many of her experiences in New York.
Margarita was skilled in many handicrafts (knitting, crochet, and sewing). Her designs were featured at Harvey Crafts on Steinway Street in Astoria, where she went from one of their best customers to working part time once her children were older. Many of her exquisite creations have been passed down from generation to generation.
Margarita was deeply religious, her Catholic upbringing an important part of who she was. Every evening before bed, she offered her children bendiciones, blessings with a prayer. She followed the yearly cycle of religious holiday celebrations, including the reading of the Christmas novena featuring the joyous singing of the villancicos, traditional Christmas hymns.
Margarita loved all types of music and had a passion for dancing, adding her energy and spirit to any party. Always the first and last one on the dance floor.
When she was younger, she would spin LPs of her favorite cumbias, dancing around the house to the delight of her children.
Margarita had a wonderful green thumb. She filled her home with abundant houseplants of various kinds, giving her great pleasure. Always ready for her next adventure, she enjoyed traveling to visit her children and her beloved grandchildren no matter the distance.
In 2007, she left Astoria, moving to North Carolina to live near, and then, with her daughter, Mireya and her family. Much of her last years were spent marveling at the magic of the trees and flowers, helping her daughter in the garden. She was amazed by the many birds that visited and she spoiled the pet dogs who anchored to her.
Everywhere she went, she became best friends with her neighbors. She was loved by all for her graciousness and caring spirit, always on the look out when someone wasn’t doing well to see if she could offer a hand or a warm embrace. Her family will forever miss her warmth and lightheartedness, but we rest assured that her loving God will keep her in His glory.
Funeral Mass was held on Monday, July 19, 2021at 10:00am at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Gastonia, NC.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:00am at St Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 43-19 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. Donations in her memory can be made to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601. (https://www.alz.org/donate)
December 19, 1936 - June 27, 2021
Margarita (Margoth) Matiz (née Vargas) died on June 27, 2021 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Margarita was the daughter of Virgilio Vargas and Blanca Maria Parada, both deceased. She is survived by her five children, Mauricio Matiz (Laura), Esperanza Matiz, Maria del Pilar Matiz, Mireya Matiz-Gihwala (Ramesh), Ernesto Matiz (Christine), all with her former husband, Alvaro Bernardo Matiz (deceased). She is further survived by twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Margarita was born near the town of Támara, Colombia, in a part of the country known as Los Llanos. She and her four siblings, Fernando Vargas (deceased), Maria Cristina Ortiz, Jorge Vargas, and Enrique Vargas, lived in various towns, including Albán and Arbeláez, finally settling in Bogotá. There, she married in 1956, starting a family that would quickly grow to five children in five years.
She began a new life in 1967 when she and her children emigrated to Astoria, Queens, joining her husband, who had arrived earlier. In Astoria, she dedicated her life to raising the children, instilling education as their number one priority. Roots in Astoria grew when the families of her sister-in-law, Cecilia Matiz (Guillermo Chemas), and brother-in-law, Enrique Matiz (Luz Amalia, both deceased) also immigrated there. Those connections and friendships with other Colombian families gave shape to many of her experiences in New York.
Margarita was skilled in many handicrafts (knitting, crochet, and sewing). Her designs were featured at Harvey Crafts on Steinway Street in Astoria, where she went from one of their best customers to working part time once her children were older. Many of her exquisite creations have been passed down from generation to generation.
Margarita was deeply religious, her Catholic upbringing an important part of who she was. Every evening before bed, she offered her children bendiciones, blessings with a prayer. She followed the yearly cycle of religious holiday celebrations, including the reading of the Christmas novena featuring the joyous singing of the villancicos, traditional Christmas hymns.
Margarita loved all types of music and had a passion for dancing, adding her energy and spirit to any party. Always the first and last one on the dance floor.
When she was younger, she would spin LPs of her favorite cumbias, dancing around the house to the delight of her children.
Margarita had a wonderful green thumb. She filled her home with abundant houseplants of various kinds, giving her great pleasure. Always ready for her next adventure, she enjoyed traveling to visit her children and her beloved grandchildren no matter the distance.
In 2007, she left Astoria, moving to North Carolina to live near, and then, with her daughter, Mireya and her family. Much of her last years were spent marveling at the magic of the trees and flowers, helping her daughter in the garden. She was amazed by the many birds that visited and she spoiled the pet dogs who anchored to her.
Everywhere she went, she became best friends with her neighbors. She was loved by all for her graciousness and caring spirit, always on the look out when someone wasn’t doing well to see if she could offer a hand or a warm embrace. Her family will forever miss her warmth and lightheartedness, but we rest assured that her loving God will keep her in His glory.
Funeral Mass was held on Monday, July 19, 2021at 10:00am at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Gastonia, NC.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:00am at St Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 43-19 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. Donations in her memory can be made to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601. (https://www.alz.org/donate)