Helena “Nina” Matava

October 7, 1951 - September 4, 2021

Helena “Nina” Matava, age 69 years, of Hackettstown, NJ, died on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ.

Born in the Bronx, NY, October 7, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Alvin and Florence Hartstein Matava. Raised in Somerville, NJ, she had formerly lived in Flemington and Washington, NJ prior to moving to Hackettstown ten yers ago.

Graduating from Somerville High School in 1969, she graduated from Warren County Community College and had worked as an associate with the Warren County Office on Aging. She had also formerly been a school bus driver.

Very faithful with a strong spirit, Nina was passionate about being an advocate for access to social service programs. She saw many people suffering who just did not have the ability to utilize the programs available, so she made it her mission to ensure that people knew about the resources available.

This passionate attitude propelled Nina to travel around the United States which she greatly enjoyed. In her younger years she also enjoyed dancing and she was meticulous with her crafting; from needlepoint to making candles, she enjoyed it all.

Along with her strong spirit and passionate attitude, Nina was very generous to her friends and neighbors. She was known to cook frequently and share it with others.

Following Messianic Judaism in recent years, she had explored her faith and was involved with Chosen People Ministries, which gave her heart a place to rest in times of trial. Though her life on Earth has ended, her family and friends take heart that she walks with them still, daily.

The oldest of three siblings, Nina is survived by her sisters and brother-in-law, Grace and Joseph Rogers and Barbara Matava; her niece, Morgan Rogers; her aunts, Tobie Matava and her wife, Jane and Shelley Hartstein; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Graveside services officiated by Rev. Christopher Small in the Congregation Knesseth Israel of Bound Brook section of Washington Cemetery, 104 Deans Rhode Hall Road, South Brunswick, NJ 08902, will be for immediate family only, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Given the current pandemic limiting the graveside to only immediate family, the services will be live-streamed so you can be ‘present’ with Nina as she is laid to rest. Additionally, if anyone has any tributes that might be read at the service, please email them to the funeral home and they will be given to the family. Please click HERE to generate an email to funeral home.

The live-stream will be active beginning on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 9:45 a.m., with the service starting at 10:00 a.m. To watch, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker enabled. (If you are having issues with clicking above, please follow this link: https://livestream.com/aritonvideolive/matava).

You are encouraged to visit Nina’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Chosen people Ministries, 242 east 51st Street, New York, NY, 10022 or online by clicking HERE, or to Care Net Pregnancy Center, 326 Washington Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

Helena “Nina” Matava, age 69 years, of Hackettstown, NJ, died on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ. Born in the Bronx, NY, October 7, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Alvin and Florence Hartstein Matava. Raised in Somerville, NJ, she had formerly lived in Flemington and Washington, NJ priorContinue Reading

Service Video

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Nina was my first friend when my family moved to Mercer Street in Somerville when we were in 6th grade and also a fellow graduate of the class of 1970 Somerville High School. Rest in peace, my friend. My sincere condolences to your family and friends.

Okay Nina - you can call me Aunt Tobie. Love you.

My sincere condolences to Nina's sisters, Barbara and Grace.

P.O.Box 1134, 134 Ninth St.

I have known Nina for over 35 years. She has been a dear sister in the Lord. My heart is broken that I will not see her or speak to her in the future. I have many memories of the fun times we spent together. She is now home with the Lord in her new, beautiful body. Rest in peace dear Nina.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.