Mrs. Renee Y Matthews

Obituary For Mrs. Renee Y Matthews

Farrell A memorial service in honor of Mrs. Renee Y. Matthews will be held Saturday at 2pm at Cedar Ave Church of God, 1045 Cedar Ave in Sharon, PA. Mrs. Renee Yvette Matthews, daughter of Wesley and Ida Boyd Gillespie was born on Jan 28th, 1959 in Harlem, NY and departed this earthly life to her eternal life on Sunday, May 29th, 2022 at Sharon Regional Hospital. She attended George Washington High School in New York City. Growing up in NYC, Renee loved playing spades and loved playing handball in the park on 151st Street, which is now called the Battlegrounds. She also loved just sitting, talking and laughing with her friends on their stoop on 150th Street. Growing up in New York City, Renee attended St. Luke A.M.E. Church with her family. Renee always had a job growing up, always wanted to support herself. She worked for years as young adult at Chock full o’ Nuts Coffee on Broadway and 43rd, which became one of the top coffee shops in New York City. Renee relocated from New York in 1979 to Farrell, PA, in her early 20’s after her father, aunt and two brothers had moved there. Renee then made countless more friends in Farrell, PA and lived there for the next 42 years, for most of her adult life. During those next years in Farrell, she made life long friends which she loved. In Farrell, Renee began working in the direct adult care field, and stayed in that field for her entire working life, caring for residents, both at community homes, as well as in her home. Renee retired from MCAR in 2016, where she worked for over 20 years. In 1982, Renee met her love, Darrell Matthews. Eight years later, in 1990, they were united in Holy Matrimony. Renee was a very caring nurturer and loved her family and friends very much. Her friends described her as beautiful inside and out. She was also a great listener, often her friends would just call her to vent about their day. Renee listened but most importantly prayed for her friends and family all the time. Renee loved God, had a beautiful spirit that was humble, honest, kind, uncomplicated, with laughter that was contagious by all that knew her. She also loved music, good movies, and loved watching great TV shows. One friend said she was a “Regal Lady,” and another said, “Renee tickled my soul.” She loved swimming at the Buhl Club in Sharon, PA for exercise and really enjoyed being around the water and grilling, especially with family and friends. Renee leaves behind to cherish her memories: her husband Darrell; her twin brothers and their wives, Wesley (Desiree) Gillespie of Cleveland, OH, Presley (Nora) Gillespie of Pittsburgh, PA; her 5 nieces, Selena Gillespie of Cleveland, OH, Portia Gillespie of Pittsburgh, PA, Yvette Byrd of New York City, NY, Reygene White of Nashville, TN, and Crystal Harris of Philadelphia, PA; her nephew, Jarrett Gillespie, of Pittsburgh, PA; her great nephew Tristan Harris of Philadelphia, PA; her aunt, Harriet Cannon of Fort Lauderdale, FL; many cousins who loved her dearly and a host of very close friends. Renee was preceded in death by: her parents, Wesley and Ida Gillespie; her sisters, Anita Byrd, Carolyn G. Baxter and Geraldine Gillespie; her aunt, Eugenia Kane; and her nephew Ernest Byrd, III.