Rhea C. Mathieu

Rhea C. Mathieu, 83, a resident of Lowell, died Friday, June 12, 2009 at Lowell General Hospital, following a brief illness.
Rhea was the beloved wife of the late Rene A. Mathieu, with whom she celebrated 64 years of marriage.
She was born Rhea Cecile Cote in Tewksbury, MA on August 16, 1925 and was the third daughter of the late Francois and Emma (Morin) Cote.
While raising her family, she worked for many years in the Wannalancit Mills and later became a home health aide in Lowell, MA.
When her two sons were young, she became very active with the city of Lowell Cub Scouts and she also was a long term member of the VFW Auxiliary.
Rhea was a communicant of the former St. Louis de France Church for 60 years.
Her favorite pastime was baking and professionally decorating cakes for family, friends and customers.
Rhea is survived by three daughters and sons-in law. Rhea and Jim Brown of New Hope, PA, Marie and Dennis Karoleski of Portsmouth, NH, and Lorraine and Anthony Barbarino of Lowell; two sons, Gerard Mathieu of Lowell, and Al Mathieu of Tampa, FL; three grandchildren, Melanie Brown, Capt. Tarl Karoleski, US Army, and Christie Brown (and her husband Gary Sloan); and one great-grandson, Owen JD Sloan.
She is also survived by one brother, Victor Cote of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and two sisters, Claire Campion of Ocala, FL and Emma Mason of Hattiesburg, MS.
Rhea was a creative, energetic and industrious woman. She was a gift to those who knew her and she will be greatly missed.