Obituaries

Beverly Mattern of St. Ignace enjoyed a long career as a teaching aide in the St. Ignace schools, and was also a craft artist who established and operated her own business. She enjoyed the many friendships developed from her years at the school, and while working at the Red Owl grocery store, and later her many years at the Driftwood Restaurant and Motel. Mrs. Mattern passed away Thursday, February 9, 2023, in St. Ignace. She was 90.

She was born September 9, 1932, in Sault Ste. Marie, one of seven children of John D. (known as “Red Jack” for his red hair) and Pearl “Polly” (nee Sawyers) Splan. Her mother had been one of 19 children, and the extended family was large. Her family originally owned and operated a farm before moving into town, where her father worked on the Great Lakes freighters.

She was graduated from Sault High, and shortly after married Jack Mattern, also of Sault Ste. Marie. His profession was meat cutter for a grocery store.

The couple moved to St. Ignace when Mr. Mattern became the meat cutter for the Red Owl grocery store, and she worked in the store as a cashier. Their plan was to purchase the store from the retiring owners. They bought a house on Graham Avenue in 1968, and Mrs. Mattern resided there for the rest of her life.

In 1974, Mr. Mattern became ill and passed away from cancer at age 44, and afterward Mrs. Mattern raised their two young children on her own.

She then took the job with the school. A few years later, she established and operated The Owl’s Nest gift shop downtown and also sold her handmade floral crafts to other stores.

Mrs. Mattern was proud of her Irish heritage; her grandparents had emigrated from Ireland. She also had great respect and interest in Native American culture and worked as an aide in the Title IV Indian Education program, where she enjoyed helping youngsters with their studies as well as teaching arts and craft projects. Many of her former students still fondly recall time spent with Mrs. Mattern in “the portable” at Bertrand School.

Mrs. Mattern liked living life close to home in St. Ignace, and best of all, she enjoyed having her family around her, participating over the years in all the activities she loved with her children and grandchildren: camping, bonfires, beach days, cookouts, time spent at the cabin, and visiting her favorite spots to pick wildflowers, berries, and cattails. In her earlier years, she liked gardening, sewing, sunbathing, dancing, going out to socialize for the evening with her friends, frequenting the Tipi Lounge, the Nicolet, the Cabaret Lounge, and the Driftwood, and later, visiting the casino. She loved the old-style country music, Willie Nelson being a favorite, and she loved to hear the bagpipes. She lent a helping hand to many students and families over the years, and she often opened her home to friends in need of a place to stay. She was a hard worker. She always rooted for the underdog. She had a sense of humor, a strong sense of determination, and she lived life on her terms.

Mrs. Mattern is survived by two daughters and their families, Heidi and Chris “Iffer” Marshall and Ellen and Ed Paquin, all of St. Ignace; four grandchildren and spouses, Luke Paquin, Molly and Annie Paquin-Brandicourt, Summer and Frankely Fabian, and Gryffin Sposito; a sister, Olive Leppiaho of Big Rapids, and a brother-in-law and his family, Allen and Verna Mattern of Sault Ste. Marie, as well as many nieces and nephews, and a former son-in-law, Tom Sposito.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Gilbert “Gid,” Vernon, Bill, Tom, and Arnold, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and an infant daughter, Yvonne. A longtime close friend, Germaine Fitnich, also preceded her.

A celebration of life for Mrs. Mattern will be held Saturday afternoon, March 4, in the dining room at the Driftwood Restaurant from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The family will greet friends beginning at 1 p.m., with an Anishnaabe blessing at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials, if desired, may be directed in her name to St. Ignace Area Hope, which operates the food pantry and Hope Chest, or Mackinac Animal Aid Association at the Mackinac County Animal Shelter.