Meta Matvejs (nee Jundzis), 94, of Chardon, OH passed away peacefully at The Residence of Chardon, Sunday morning, December 6th, 2020. She was born in Latvia on March 13th, 1926 to the late Augusts and Marta (Vasiljeva) Jundzis. Meta is once again reunited with her loving husband of 60 years, Janis Matvejs, who died September 16th, 2008.
She came to the United States in the 1940s with her husband, who worked as a cabinetmaker. Meta worked outside the home when needed, and together they raised their daughter and built a life in Mayfield Heights, OH. Meta loved tending to her garden, especially her favorite plants—peonies, rhododendrons and azaleas.
She also liked planting a vegetable garden and canned many things over the years including tomatoes and delicious homemade pickles, which everyone enjoyed. Her hobbies included sewing, needlework, knitting various things, crocheting afghans (she also gave them to others), making beautiful pinecone wreaths, and taking trips to the Carolinas and to the beaches along the East Coast and also Florida. She and Janis very much enjoyed being by the water, whether the lake close to home or the ocean. They liked to travel and see many beautiful things along the way. Meta maintained close family ties by phone and by writing letters with many family members and friends, even though separated by distance.
She was well known for her great culinary skills, making Latvian specialties like piragi, klingeris, rye bread as well as many others. She also mastered the art of making wine, brewing beer, and making cheese from scratch. The aroma of walking into her kitchen and smelling a pot of soup simmering will be greatly missed. Meta was a very generous and kind person who was loved by all. The fellow residents where she lived always enjoyed spending time with her playing games and other activities.
She will be greatly missed by: her daughter, Anita (John Ingold) Castelletti; granddaughter, Karen Castelletti; close friend of the family, Mark Castelletti; nieces and nephews, Aina Flack of Canada, Diana Taylor of Ohio, Sarmis Jundzis, Ilzite Balode, Janis Jundzis, Vilnis Kremers, Andris Kremers, all of Latvia; and many friends.
Meta is preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Janis; siblings, Erna Jundzis, Vaira Kremers, Janis Jundzis, Ina Madara, Elza King; nephew, Edmond Matvejs; and niece, Barbara Ann King.
A GRAVESIDE SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT 1 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, 2020 AT KNOLLWOOD CEMETERY, 1678 SOM CENTER RD, MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH 44124 with Pastor Sarma Eglite of the United Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland officiating. In lieu of flowers, tokens of remembrance are requested to be made by planting one of Meta’s favorite plants in her memory.
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