Matilda Johnson

Matilda (Tilly) Johnson (Massaro) of The Fountains at Cedar Parke, Atco, died peacefully on May 15, 2022 at the age of 94.  She was born and raised in South Philadelphia.  She is predeceased by her parents, Ralph M. Massaro, Sr. and Mary Massaro (Belmonte), her husband Frederick Johnson, her brother Robert Massaro and his wife Rose Massaro (Trifiletti), and her brother-in-law Frank Menta.  She worked for several years at Struthers Dunn, Inc. in Philadelphia, where she met her husband of 61 years, Frederick Johnson, who was an Electrical Engineer at the company.  Matilida and Fred followed the company when it moved from Philadelphia to Pitman in South Jersey during the early 1950s.  They originally moved to Sewell, and then to Glassboro in the mid-1950s. 

Matilda later became a stay-at-home mom and homemaker to raise and care for her sons and family.  She was a fantastic cook, and being of Italian heritage, loved to make her classic Italian dishes of Zuppa di Lenticchie (lentil soup), Pasta Con Aglio e Olio (pasta with garlic and olive oil), Pasta e Fogioli (pasta and beans), and Rapini (sautéed Italian broccoli rabe).  In fact, the owner of a local restaurant once asked Matilda how she made her Italian broccoli rabe, and then put it on the restaurant menu using her recipe.  She also loved making her famous chicken and pastina soup for her grandchildren.  Matilda enjoyed taking vacations to the Jersey Shore with her husband after they were married, and later with her entire family and close family friends.  She enjoyed her later years at her retirement community at the Fountains at Cedar Parke, where she had many friends, some of whom she knew from her youth in South Philly.  Everybody at The Fountains loved Matilda and she became popularly known as “Miss Tilly.”

Devoted mother of her two sons, Stephen (Lisa) Johnson, Mark (Luddy) Johnson.  Dear Sister of Anna (late Frank) Menta, Ralph Massaro II (Marge), and the late Robert (late Rose) Massaro.  Loving grandmother of Rebecca (Darren) Raudenbush, Sarah Johnson, Christina Johnson, and Connor Johnson.  Loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Tuesday, May 24th from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Bell-Hennessy Funeral Home, 420 S. Main St.,Williamstown. Funeral Services will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown. 

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