Chris Matthies

In Loving Memory of Chris Matthies

July 4, 1932 – October 13, 2026

Chris Matthies, affectionately known as Chris Elliott during her younger years as a singer and entertainer, lived a beautiful life filled with music, love, friendship, service, and an unwavering devotion to family.

Born on the Fourth of July in 1932 in Flemington, New Jersey, Chris was a first-generation Italian American who grew up alongside her older brother, Rudy. Her parents had immigrated to America as young adults from Italy’s Piedmont region, bringing with them the traditions, values, and work ethic that would shape their family for generations. Chris and Rudy attended a one-room schoolhouse and spent their childhood running through open farmland, caring for an assortment of beloved pets, and helping their parents tend the family’s small farm. Those early years fostered a deep appreciation for family, nature, and the simple joys of life.

Music became an important part of Chris’s life in her youth. Alongside her husband, Kenneth, she pursued a career in entertainment, performing in clubs and lounges throughout New York City during the 1960s and 1970s. Her love of music and performing remained a special part of her story.

Later in life, Chris began a distinguished career with Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), eventually moving to the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, where she served as Director of Document Control until her retirement at age 62. Smart, capable, and dedicated, she brought the same determination and commitment to her professional life that she carried into everything she did.

Above all else, family was everything to Chris. She was a beautiful, sweet soul—strong, intelligent, kind, and fiercely loyal to those she loved. She was also an extraordinary friend whose warmth and generosity touched countless lives. Her smile was absolutely contagious; it was nearly impossible to be around her without smiling back.

Chris was deeply devoted to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Waretown, New Jersey, where she was an active member for many years. Through the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), she participated in numerous activities and events benefiting the church and the surrounding community. She volunteered weekly at the church thrift shop, sorting through clothing, books, and household donations that helped support families in need. For years, she also created the backdrop for Saint Stephen’s annual Christmas bazaar and its beloved “Pics with Santa.” In her later years, she remained a faithful member of the church’s prayer chain, continuing to offer care and compassion to others through prayer.

Chris and her longtime partner, Harris, were also generous supporters of the Surflight Theatre. They could sometimes be found stopping by the Showplace next door to “sing for their ice cream”—a delightful reflection of Chris’s playful spirit and enduring love of music.

In her later years, Chris found happiness in life’s quieter pleasures. She could often be found sitting on her porch among her flowers, reading, talking with loved ones, and enjoying the beauty of each passing season. Autumn held a special place in her heart, and she had been looking forward to pumpkin spice season. She loved animals dearly, especially her beloved cat, Boo Bear, who passed away around this time last year. It is comforting to imagine that they are together again.

Chris leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish her memory: her sons, Chris and Kurt, and her daughter, Laurie; her grandchildren, Stephanie, Taylor, Nikita, Jason, Adam, and James; and her great-grandchildren, Christian, Camden, Emmalie, Addy, Margot, and Maisie. Her love, strength, and kindness will continue to live on through each of them and through the many friends and members of her community whose lives she touched.

Chris’s life was a testament to the beauty of loving deeply, giving generously, remaining true to oneself, and finding joy in the people and moments that matter most. Though she will be profoundly missed, the memories she created, the kindness she shared, and the love she gave so freely will remain forever.

A Celebration of Chris’s Life

Chris will be laid to rest in the Memorial Garden at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Waretown, New Jersey, on November 8, 2026. A church service will be held at 2:00 p.m., with a repast served in the parish hall immediately following the service. Family and friends are warmly invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate a beautiful life well lived.

May Chris be remembered always for her contagious smile, her generous heart, her love of music, her devotion to family, and the quiet, beautiful ways she made the world a little brighter.

She will live on in the hearts and memories of all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.