Teresa Kalvelage Matthews

Teresa (Terry) Susan Kalvelage Matthews returned to her Heavenly Father 4/8/26 after a 32 year battle with multiple cancers.  Born 5/12/48 to Clement and Joan Kalvelage in San Francisco, California, she grew up the oldest of three children in San Jose, California.  Her father died when she was 10 of leukemia and her mother remarried Warren Miller and the blended family added 2 step-sisters.  In high school, Terry met her soulmate and life-partner Joseph (Joe) Moore Matthews.  She attended UC Davis and graduated from UC Berkeley with a biology degree.  Terry and Joe were married 4/4/70 in San Jose, California.  She worked as a drug representative, biotechnician, and in a histology lab as Joe finished a Masters, and then attended Medical School in Boston.  Her children were born Richard (Doug) 1975 in Boston, Massachusetts, Scott 1976 in Fairfield, California, and Charlotte 1981 in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  In 1983 the family moved to Chico, California, for Joe to work and Terry to manage his Colorectal and General Surgery Practice.  She retired in 2013 to focus on her other adventures.

"November 4, 1994 was the date of 'my second birth'.  My diagnosis of cancer changed everything, profoundly, and really pointed me in the direction of my life's work.  At age 46, I learned that death WOULD come to me, that I had no control over the timing, and that each moment was so precious I never wanted to waste a single one.  As I searched for my new mission in life, I became aware that I was being called to not only love the people who I chose in life, through birth or marriage.  This love was to go beyond kinship.  I was called to open my eyes to the needy around me, especially those with serious illness, and when such a person came to my attention, to love them!  I believe my incremental efforts transform the world, through love, tiny grain of sand by tiny grain of sand.  I said 'yes' when God asked me to be an example.  That's really all there is to say."

From working in the Enloe Cancer Center, being peer support for cancer patients, advocating for patient centered care supporting the complex needs of patients, to helping with Cancer Society Daffodil Days, and the Commonweal Cancer Help Program; the work on behalf of patients in general, and cancer patients specifically, was life sustaining.

The written word was Terry's joy.  From writing and reading poetry, editing other's work, authoring books on cancer survival, to choosing the right greeting or condolence card, and the hand written notes or post cards, words on paper were vital to communication.  Bible studies and book clubs filled the days, mornings were reserved for the local Newspaper to be unfolded, read, and appropriate articles clipped to be delivered to friends or relations. Spelling and grammar were personally taught to grand-children.

Spring was Terry's season.  The lengthening days brought sun on the skin, green to the trees and hills, and flowers abundant.  Walks in Bidwell Park and Table Mountain, the Snow Goose Festival, time on a lake in a sailboat, waterfalls in Yosemite, seashores with tidepools, or time snorkeling in Hawaii- all were cherished.  A summer hike, backpacking the Sierra, or a night with a campfire star-gazing at high altitude were to be followed by fall colors that matched her palette perfectly.

Opportunities to spend time with Joe included ballroom dancing, trips to 6 of 7 continents, walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal, and trips with other pilgrims to Lourdes, Ireland and Italy.  Grandchildren were invited to travel with them upon transition from grade school to high school.

Her Catholic faith sustained her through all of this.  Traditional and spiritual education were linked, starting with her time in Catholic grade school, then Newman Center life in college and medical school, then Notre Dame School and Mercy High School for her children and grandchildren.  St. John’s and Our Divine Savior Parishes in Chico were staples.  The Christ the King Retreat Center and Trappist Monastery at Vina were cherished as sites for retreats, friendship, and spiritual and wine encounters.  Bible studies, parish counsels, liturgical planning, and spiritual support for the sick were the fruits of her spirituality.  She was able to celebrate one last Easter before joining the risen Lord.

Terry is survived by her husband Joe, brother Steve Kalvelage, step sister Carol Miller, children Doug and Maureen Matthews, Scott and Becky Matthews, and Charlotte (Matthews) and Scott Fritz, 9 grandchildren and her beloved cat Sweetheart.

Funeral services to be held at St. John’s Catholic Church, 11 am 4/16/26.  In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Notre Dame Catholic School, Butte Home Health and Hospice, or the Vina Monastery of New Clairvaux in her honor.