Carol Ann Matern, 93, joined the Church Triumphant on February 8, 2026. She was born in Western Springs, Ill., to the Rev Herman C. Seitz and Theodora Helena Seitz Thieleke on May 3, 1932.

Carol graduated from Walton High School in the Bronx, N.Y., and earned her BA from Hunter College. She was an accomplished singer with perfect pitch, performing in various school musical productions. Throughout her life she served as teacher, secretary, organist, and choir director in several Lutheran congregations across the eastern seaboard.

After retiring in 1991 she lived in Galway, N.Y., and Newport News, Va., and moved to Newtown in 2017. She continued to serve the Lord with gladness during her retirement. Carol was commissioned as a deacon of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, trained as a Stephen Minister, and served with Harvesters for Christ assisting congregations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia.

Carol loved the Lord and loved her family. Her calm, stable presence and generous, gentle spirit blessed all those who knew her.

How do you boil down a lifetime of kindness and love? Special fond memories of Carol include songs and prayers, singing on car trips, French pancakes, cribbage games, watching Jeopardy and the news, and sitting with her in the front row at church. She always had cookies to share and enjoyed her tea.

She was predeceased by her husband, John H. Matern; her parents; and her sister, Janet.

Carol is survived by her children: Kathryn (Thomas) Fisher, Jane (Edward) McGrath, Mary (Bart) Thumser, and Deborah Matern (Peter) Graf; grandchildren Mark Fisher, Amy Paynter, Domenick Izzo, Michelle Swider, Patrick McGrath, John Izzo, Kathrine Graf, Angelina Mezick, Katie McGrath, Kristin Fisher, Daniel Graf, Carol Schmotzer, and Shawn McGrath; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 11 am, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Road in Newtown. Visitation at 10 am. The burial service will be in Galway Village Cemetery, Galway, N.Y., on a future date.

Contributions in memory of Carol may be given to the memorial fund of Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown CT 06470.

Well done, good and faithful servant.